UC-NRLF 


SB    SMO 


OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  M 

OF 


"OLD  ABE.1' 


IDENTIFICA  TION. 


The  picture  opposite  is  the  Veteran  Eagle  in  one  of  his  grave  moo-is, 
as  fie  stood  on  his  "  Centennial  Perch."  J.  R.  Stuart,  an  artist  of  Moai- 
son,  taking  observations  of  the  bird  as  he  is,  accurately  sketched  it  from  a 
photograph  by  J.  M.  Fowler,  of  the  same  city.  It  was  engraved  with  fine 
effect  by  the  Chicago  Engraving  Company. 

His  Excellency,  the  Governor  of  Wisconsin,  has  thus  courteously  given  thf 
author  his  autographic  identification  of  "  Old  Abe: " 

"EXECUTIVE  OFFICE,  MADIPOX,  "Wis..  February  8, 1876. 
"  /  hereby  certify  that  this  picture  is  a  correct  likeness  of '•Old  Abe,"1  the 
live  War  Eagle,  carried  for  three  years  by  the  Eighth  Wisconsin  Reg't  in 
the  War  of  the  Rebellion." 


THE  SOLDIER  BIRD. 


4  4 


OLD  ABE:" 


THE  LIVE  WAR- EAGLE  OF  WISCONSIN, 


THAT  SERVED  A  THREE  YEARS'  CAMPAIGN  IN  THE  GREAT 
•REBELLION. 


BT 

J.  O.  BARRETT. 


"  When  Freedom  from  her  mountain  height 

Unfurl'd  her  standard  to  the  air, 
She  tore  the  azure  robe  of  night, 
And  set  her  stars  of  glory  there. 

•»*»•* 
Then  from  his  mansion  in  the  sun 
She  called  her  eagle-bearer  down. 
And  gave  into  his  mighty  hand 
The  symbol  of  her  chosen  land ! " 

—  DRAKE. 

1  I'd  rather  capture  *  Old  Abe '  than  a  whole  brigade." 

—  GEN.  STEBLING  PBICB,  of  the  Conf.  Army. 


FIFTH  EDITION. 


MADISON,  WIS.: 

ATWOOD  &  CULVER,  PUBLISHERS. 
1876. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1876, 

BY  J.  O.  BARRETT, 
In  the  office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington,  D,  C. 


ATWOOD  &  CTJLVER, 

Stereotypers    and  Printers^ 

MADISON,  WIS. 


E 
.5 


TO 

AMERICAN  PATRIOTS; 

WHO  REVERENCE  THE  WISDOM  AND  VIRTUE  OF 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

THE  MARTYRED  PRESIDENT  OF  A  BLEEDING  COUNTRY. 

TO 

SOLDIERS  OF  THE  FEDERAL  ARMY; 

WHO  MADE  THEMSELVES  A  BREASTWORK  OF  DEFENSE 

FOR  LIBERTY  AND  HOME. 
TO 

CONFEDERATES  OF  THE  SOUTH; 

WHO  CHEEK  AGAIN  THE  EAGLE 

THAT  HOVERS  AMONG 

THIRTY  -EIGHT  STARS  OF  A  UNITED  REPUBLIC. 


INDEX. 


INTRODUCTION, 


CHAPTER  I. 
THE  EAGLE  A  NATIONAL  EMBLEM, 

CHAPTER  II. 


-      13 


"  OK  TO  THE  FBONT!" 


CHAPTER  III. 


CENTENNIAL  BIRD  OP  STATE, 

A  Battle, 30 

Abe  and  the  Dog,  Frank,             •  31 

Abe  and  the  (iuinea  Hen,  49 
Adventure  of  an  Eagle-Bearer,  121 
Appearance  of  Old  Abe  in  Battle,  57. 

Another  Coquettish  Flight,  45 

Artistic  Tribute  to  our  War-bird,  96 

Assault  on  Vicksburg,  -  -  61 
Attempt  of  Gen.  Price  to  capture 

Old  Abe, 
Augury  of  Success,      - 

Bald-Headed  Veteran,  -  -  83 
Bravo,  Old  Abe,  ...  -  5! 
Building  an  Orphans'  Home,  -  109 

81 
78 

m 

88 
B6 


-      22 


Celebration  at  Chippewa  Falls, 
Centennial  Bird  of  State,  - 

Chastising  the  Illinois  Soldier, 
Chasing  the  Negro,      .. 
Charge  on  Jackson, 
Companionship  of  Old  Abe, 
Confederate  Respect,  - 

Cotton  is  King,      .       -       - 
Covering  the  Retreat, 
Cropping  the  Eagle, 

Defending  his  Feathers,     • 


52 
50 
74 
43 

103 


Eagle  at  Corinth  (poem)     -       -    109 
Eagle  a  National  Emblem, 
Eagle  of  Freedom  (poem)  -       -    118 
Eagle's  Vernacular,      ...      44 
Enlistment  and  Departure  for  the 
War,         .....      19 

Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,    -    114 
Great  Seal  of  the  United  States,      15 

Heraldry  of  Freedom  in  St.  Louis,   26 

Introduction,        ....       7 
luka,       ......     39 


Medallion  of  Old  Abe,  -  -  120 
Milwaukee  Soldiers1  Home,  -  97 
Morale  of  Appetite,  -  -  -  44 


Mustered  Out, 


•  77 

•  87 


New  Perch,    .....     24 
Northwestern  Sanitary  Fair,     -     94 

Olden  Legend  Verified,  -  -  101 
Old  Abe's  Last  Battle,  -  -  84 
Old  Abe  a  Gentleman  Passenger,  82 
Old  Abe's  Battles  and  Skirmishes,  86 
Old  Abe's  Pictures  and  Profits,  90 
Old  Abe's  Reproof  to  Gen.  Sher 
man,  -  -  96 
Old  Abe's  Fight  with  Andy,  -  91 
Old  Abe  in  a  Dance,  -  -  -  119 
On  to  the  Front,  •  29 


Pets  of  Soldiers, 


Ifl 


Red  River  Expedition,  -  -  70 
Repenting  at  Sight  of  the  Eagle,  59 
Return  to  Eau  Claire,  79 

See  dat  Yankee  Bird,  -       -     47 

Soldiers'  Monument,  Peoria,  111.,  108 
Soldiers  and  Sailors'  Convention 

at  Pittsburg,  -  -  .  -  104 
Soldiers  and  Sailors  at  Chicago,  110 
Soldiers'  Reunions,  -  -  -  111 
Strategy  at  Karmington,  -  -  83 
Surrender  of  Vicksburg,  -  06 

Tableau  of  Old  Abe,  -  -  -117 
Taking  a  Glass,  -  ...  70 
Torch-light  Procession,  -  •  107 
Transferred  to  the  Mate,  88 

Transit  through  Chicago,  •     25 

Undergoing  Discipline,  35 

Under  Arms,  Once  More,  -  -  127 
Unvexed  to  the  Sea,  ...  67 

War-Bearers  of  the  Eagle,          •     87 

Yanka.«  Buzzard,  ...  46 
Yankee  Trick,  ....  72 

1878! 1«4 


INTRODUCTION. 


"  AMONG  all  the  incidents  of  this  eventful  war,"  says  the  Mil 
waukee  Home  Journal,  of  May  20,  1865,  "  few  are  more  remark- 
able,  than  that  an  eagle,  the  emblem  of  our  country,  should  fol 
low  a  regiment  through  all  the  vicissitudes  of  a  three  years'  ser 
vice  in  the  field."  Such  is  the  fact.  With  a  view  to  the  eventual 
publication  of  the  biography  of  this  celebrated  Eagle,.!  under 
took  the  task,  while  a  resident  of  Eau  Claire,  Wis.,  in  the  winter 
of  1865,  of  identifying  his  Indian  captor,  that  I  might  obtain  a 
correct  account  of  its  infancy.  The  following  letter  from  THEO 
DORE  COLEMAN,  Editor  of  the  Chippewa  Falls  Union,  whom 
with  W.  W.  BARRETT  I  had  engaged  to  institute  a  personal  re 
search  among  the  Chippewa  tribes,  explains  the  plan  of  opera 
tions  so  successfully  executed : 

CHIPPEWA  PALLS,  WISCONSIN,  February  13, 1865. 

J.  O.  BARRETT,  ESQ.  —  Dear  Sir:  —  Having  been  engaged  for  a  short  time 
in  the  collection  of  information  relative  to  the  capture  and  early  ownership 
of  the  Eagle  of  the  8th  Wisconsin  Regiment,  whose  history  you  intend  to 
publish,  I  take  pleasure  in  submitting  a  few  facts  in  regard  to  the  progress 
made.  Ascertaining,  first,  that  the  Eagle  had  been  sold  to  Mr.  DANIEL  Mo- 
CANN,  of  the  town  of  Eagle  Point,  in  this  county,  by  some  Indians,  you 
wished  me  to  discover  if  possible,  who  those  Indians  were,  and  to  se 
cure  their  presence  at  Eau  Claire,  at  an  early  day.  I  learned  from  Mr. 
McCANN  that  the  Indians  who  had  brought  the  Eagle  to  him  in  the  summer 
of  IfcGl,  were  of  the  Lake  Flambeau  tribe,  and  that  the  owner  was  a  son  of 
AH-MONSE,  chief  of  that  tribe,  or  baud,  of  Chippewa  Indians.  I  proceeded  to 
obtain  corroborative  evidence  of  this  account,  and  found,  through  the  evi 
dence  of  Mr.  JOHN  BRUNET,  Mr.  JAS.  ERMATINGER,  Mr.  CHAIILES  CORBINE, 
and  others  —  all  old  residents  of  the  upper  Chippewa  and  Flambeau  rivers  — 
besides  the  testimony  of  different  Indians,  who  were  acquainted  with  the 
facts  of  the  capture  of  the  Eagle,  that  it  was  correct.  All  accounts  agree 
that  the  name  of  the  captor  of  the  bird  is  A-GE-MAH-WE-OE-ZUIG,  or  Chief 
Sky,  one  of  five  sons  of  the  said  AII-MONSE.  Having  satisfied  myself 
by  such  evidence,  and  by  other  inquiries  made  in  every  direction,  that  there 


8  INTRODUCTION. 

could  be  no  mistake  in  the  identity  of  the  captor  of  the  Eagle,  I  have  made 
arrangements,  according  to  your  directions,  to  bring  the  said  A-GE-MAH-WE- 
oE-ZHioto  Eau  Claire,  as  soon  as  possible.  He  is  now  with  his  band,  hunt 
ing  between  the  head  waters  of  the  Yellow  and  Flambeau  rivers,  and  is 
shortly  expected  at  Brunei's  Falls,  on  the  Chippewa. 
Wishing  you  full  success  in  the  publication  of  your  work, 

I  remain,  with  much  respect,  Yours  Truly, 

THEODORE  COLEMAN. 

Ascertaining  that  A-GE-MAH-WE-GE-ZHIG,  with  other  hunters 
would  soon  arrive  at  Brunei's  Falls,  on  their  way  up  the  river, 
Mr.  COLEMAN  engaged  Mr.  BRUNET  to  detain  him  there  until  a 
concerted  movement.  At  length  they  came,  the  Indian  with 
them,  to  whom  was  communicated  the  wishes  of  the  "  white  man 
at  Eau  Claire,"  who  desired  to  talk  with  him  4t  about  the  Eagle  he 
caught  a  few  years  ago."  He  hesitated,  apprehensive  of  a  trick, 
for  all  white  men  had  not  been  true  to  their  red  brethren.  Finally 
he  appealed  to  his  father.  It  was  a  grave  question  indeed ;  they 
were  all  afraid  of  being  arrested  for  capturing  an  eagle!  After 
a  long  counsel  together,  the  old  chief  resolved  to  goto  Chippewa 
Falls,  without  further  waiting,  requiring  his  boys  to  follow  the 
next  day,  and  appear  in  proper  costume,  should  he  find  it  safe. 
Arriving  there,  he  had  an  interview  with  H.  S.  ALLEN,  Esq.,  a 
pioneer  resident,  who,  being  a  friend  of  the  Indians,  persuaded 
him  to  venture.  Meeting  his  boys,  as  before  arranged,  he  select 
ed  two  of  them,  A-GE-MAII-WE-GE-ZIIIG  and  A-ZHA-WASH-CO-GE- 
ZHIG,  and  with  Messrs.  COLEMAN  and  BARRETT  and  ELIJAH  ER- 
MATINGER  for  interpreter,  rode  to  Eau  Claire,  the  19th  of  Feb. 
1865,  welcomed  with  a  cordiality  that  at  once  inspired  mutual 
confidence.  The  native  nobility  of  these  sons  of  the  northern 
forests  created  quite  a  sensation.  A-GE-MAH-GE-WE-ZHIG  related 
his  eagle  adventures  in  a  very  intelligent  manner,  so  simple  and 
candid  as  to  assure  every  one  present  of  their  truthfulness.  His 
father,  who  is  much  beloved  as  chief  of  the  tribe,  was  particular 
ly  loquacious  and  is  properly  named  AH-MONSE,  the  "  Thunder 
of  Bees."  He  had  much  to  say  about  his  "  Great  Father  LIN 
COLN,"  whom  he  had  visited  several  times  at  Washington,  in 
the  interest  of  his  tribe,  averring  that  Mr.  LINCOLN  gave  him 
"  plenty  of  money,  and  to  his  children  much  land,  and  let  him 


INTRODUCTION".  9 

seeabattie  field."  Photographs  of  these  "red  brothers"  were 
taken  by  A.  J.  DEVOR,  of  Eau  Claire,  and  never  did  mortal  ap 
pear  more  proud  than  the  eagle  captor  when  attiring  himself  in 
regal  costume  for  his  carte  de  visile.  A  full  blooded  Indian  of 
consequence  —  then  about  twenty-five  years  old — belonging  to 
the  royal  family  of  the  Flambeaux,  it  is  glory  enough  for  him 
to  be  known  among  his  fellows  as  the  captor  of  the  American 
Eagle  of  the  Eight  Wisconsin  Regiment  of  Volunteers. 

The  following  letter,  with  a  map,  gives  an  accurate  description 
of  the  infant  home  of  the  Eagle : 

CHIPPEWA  FALLS,  WISCONSIN-,  February  25,  1885. 

MY  DEAR  BROTHER:  — According  to  your  request,  I  will  give  you  what  in 
formation  I  have  obtained  of  the  Chippewa  country,  and  especially  of  the 
home  of  your  Pet  Eagle.  Inclosed  I  send  you  a  map  of  this  country,  being 
a  perfect  copy  from  J.  I.  LLOTD'S  New  Map  of  the  United  States,  with  a 
slight  change  in  the  location  of  the  Flambeau  Lakes  and  tributaries,  which 
are  copied  from  a  drawing  made  for  me  by  AH-MONSE  and  the  Eagle-Indian. 
I  can  flnd  no  maps  representing  the  United  States'  surveys  of  these  lakes. 
To-aay  I  saw  ISRAEL  GOULD,  the  Indian  Interpreter,  who  rendered  you  so 
valuable  assistance  last  summer  on  your  Indian  expedition.  At  my  request 
he  drew  a  map  of  the  Flambeau  and  its  lakes,  and  it  agreed  precisely  with 
the  drawing  made  by  AH-MONSE  and  his  son.  Mr.  GOULD  is  an  intelligent 
Scotchman,  and  has  lived  with  the  Chippewa  Indians  for  fifteen  years.  He 
has  a  good  knowledge  of  Indian  character  and  probably  is  one  of  the  best  of 
Indian  interpreters.  At  one  time  he  lived  one  year  at  Flambeau  Lake,  or 
Ah-monse's  Lake,  as  it  is  most  generally  called,  trading  with  AII-MONSE  and 
his  tribe,  and,  consequently,  he  is  well  acquainted  with  their  country.  I 
have  much  confidence  in  his  account  of  the  location  of  these  lakes;  and  as 
all  the  other  Indian  traders,  and  trappers,  and  AH-MONSE  and  the  Eagle-In 
dian  do  agree  with  him,  I  believe  you  can  rely  upon  my  map  as  being  correct. 
I  will  give  his  description  of  this  country: 

The  whole  Chippewa  country  is  well  watered  with  innumerable  streams, 
swamps,  lakes  and  rivers ;  its  surface  varies  in  hills  and  bluffs,  prairies,  oak 
openings  and  meadows,  and  is  covered,  for  the  most  part,  with  every  variety 
of  hard  wood,  Norway  and  white  pine.  The  soil  in  many  places  is  good, 
while  many  of  the  hills  and  blufl's  are  rocky,  and  in  its  northern  portion  are 
to  be  found  iron,  copper  and  other  minerals.  It  is  inhabited  by  the  various 
tribes  of  the  Chippewa  Indians,  and  abounds  in  wild  beasts,  fish  and  birds. 
The  Flambeau  River  is  a  wide,  crooked  stream,  the  longest  tributary  of  the 
Chippewa,  and  its  general  course  is  southwest.  Upon  its  north  fork  are  the 
'Itapids,' at  which  place  the  Eagle-Indian  said  he  caught  the  Eagle.  It  is 
about  125  miles  from  Eau  Claire,  70  miles  from  the  mouth  of  Flambeau  Kiv- 
er,  and  80  or  90  miles  from  Lake  Superior.  It  ia  three  miles  from  here  to 


10  INTRODUCTION. 

Little  Flambeau,  or  Asken  Lake,  which  is  three  miles  long;  six  miles  fur 
thcr  north  is  Flambeau,  or  Ah-mouse's  Lake  — a  stream  uniting  the  two. 
This  is  the  largest  of  the  Flambeau  Lakes,  being  three  miles  wide  and  six 
long.  It  is  a  beautiful  stream  of  clear,  pure  water,  where  are  found  fish  of 
many  varieties.  The  meaning  of  its  Indian  name  is  '  Fire-Hunting  Lake.' 
Near  its  northern  shore  is  a  fine  island,  where  AH-MONSE  frequently  lives. 
On  its  eastern  shore  is  a  pretty,  sloping  hill,  nearly  forty  feet  high,  covered 
with  maples.  Here,  overlooking  the  lake,  the  Indians,  a  few  years  ago,  had 
their  villages,  which  are  now  located  upon  the  north  and  northwest  shores, 
where  they  have  cleared  their  land,  leaving  now  and  then  a  shade  tree,  giv 
ing  the  country  a  beautiful  appearance.  The  soil  is  good;  and  here  they 
raise  their  corn  and  potatoes.  Farther  to  the  north  is  Rice  Lake,  the  chain 
of  lakes,  the  Big  Portage  and  the  Montreal  iiiver.  A  few  years  ago,  this  was 
the  route  of  the  Indian  traders,  going  from  Lake  Superior  to  Eau  Claire. 
The  country  near  the  lakes,  for  two  miles  east  and  west  of  the  river,  and 
about  four  miles  in  all  directions  from  the  lakes,  is  low  prairie  land,  covered 
with  hard  wood,  with  here  and  there  a  lonesome  pine;  while  beyond,  in  all 
directions,  the  country  is  uneven  and  hilly,  and  wooded  with  the  dark  pine. 
In  this  sequestered  country,  AH-MONSE  and  his  tribe  have  lived  for  many 
years,  subsisting  upon  their  corn  and  potatoes,  rice  and  sugar,  fish  and 
game.  The  Flambeau  tribe  is  the  most  enterprising  and  intelligent  of  the 
Chippewas.  Their  warriors  number  from  140  to  150  men,  and  they  kill  more 
game  than  any  other  tribe.  Here  are  found  the  deer  and  elk,  the  mink  and 
marten,  the  bear  and  otter,  and  also  the  fish-hawk,  the  owl,  the  eagle  and 
other  birds. 

Mr.  GOULD  says  the  region  of  the  Flambeau  Lakes  is  an  eagle  country,  he 
having  seen  more  there  than  in  any  other,  and  has  there  found  many  eagles' 
nests,  containing  from  two  to  four  young  birds.  Having  seen  the  War  Eagle 
at  different  times,  he  is  satisfied  it  is  a  bald  eagle;  and  this  is  the  opinion 
of  A-GE-MAH-WE-GE-ZHIG.  Mr.  GOULD  also  says,  Asken  Lake  is  situated 
about  five  miles  east  of  the  fourth  principal  meridian,  which  line  is  well  de 
fined  upon  the  river  bank;  and,  if  he  is  correct,  and  I  rely  upon  his  state 
ment,  then  the  Eagle  must  have  been  caught  in  Chippewa  County,  in  or  near 
township  forty,  north  of  range  one,  east  of  the  fourth  principal  meridian, 
nearly  four  miles  from  its  eastern  boundary. 

Trusting  my  map  and  letter  may  aid  you  in  obtaining  a  better  idea  of  the 
home  of  the  Eagle, 

I  remain,  your  brother,  for  Freedom  and  Union, 

W.  W.  BARRETT. 

By  examining  the  map,  the  reader  will  notice  the  location  of 
the  birth-place  of  the  Eagle  that  is  now  so  famous  in  the  world. 
His  captor  said  the  nest  was  found  on  a  pine  tree,  about  three 
miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  Flambeau,  near  some  rapids  in  a 
curve  of  the  river;  that,  at  the  proper  time,  just  after  sugar. 


INTKODUCTIOlf.  11 

making  at  the  l<  bend,"  he  and  another  Indian  cut  the  tree  down, 
and,  amid  the  menaces  of  the  parent  birds,  caught  two  young 
eaglets,  of  a  greyish-brown  color,  about  the  size  of  prairie  hens, 
one  of  which  died  from  the  effects  of  an  injury;  that  they  pre 
served  the  old  nest — "big  as  a  washtub,  made  of  sticks,  turf 
and  weeds"— and  nursed  his  Me-kee-zeen-ce  (Little  Eagle)  in  it, 
as  a  plaything  for  the  pappooses  at  the  Indian  village ;  that,  a 
few  weeks  after,  while  en  route  for  Chippewa  Falls  and  Eau 
Claire,  with  their  furs,  moccasins  and  baskets,  he  sold  his  Eagle 
to  DANIEL  McCANN  for  a  bushel  of  corn. 

This  statement  of  "  Chief  Sky  "  —  quite  a  significant  name  — 
agrees  with  that  of  Mr.  McCANN,  who  subsequently  tried  to  sell 
the  bird  to  a  company,  then  just  forming  at  the  Falls  for  the  1st 
Wisconsin  Battery,  but,  failing,  carried  it  to  Eau  Claire,  some 
time  in  August,  1861,  and  offered  it  to  a  company  organizing  for 
the  Eighth  Wisconsin  Infantry.  It  was  then  about  two  months 
old. 

About  the  close  of  the  war,  being  personally  acquainted  with 
some  of  the  Eagle-Bearers  and  other  members  of  the  company, 
I  obtained  from  them  most  of  the  facts  herein  related  of  the 
bird's  "  Southern  life,"  dressed  in  their  own  apt  language,  which 
I  have  frequently  used  in  this  work,  with  their  minute  and 
graphic  description  of  battle  scenes.  In  writing  up  their  and 
others'  testimony,  I  have,  of  course,  made  the  Eagle  the  central 
figure,  not  intending  to  furnish  a  complete  delineation  of  the 
regimental  movements,  nor  its  official  relations,  but  simply  to 
mention  instances  where  our  hero  acted  some  conspicuous  part 
worthy  of  record.  For  many  of  these  facts  and  incidents,  I 
here  acknowledge  my  indebtedness  to  Lieut.  BURNETT  DEMO- 
BEST,  Capt.  VICTOR  W^OLF,  THOS.  B.  BUTLER,  THEODORE  COLE- 
MAN,  THOMAS  and  JOHN  F.  HILL,  EDWARD  HOMASTON,  DAVID 
McLANE,  Col.  J.  W.  JEFFERSON,  Serg't  MYRON  BRIGGS,  DAVID 
NOBLE,  GEO.  W.  DRIGGS,  author  of  "  Opening  of  the  Mississip 
pi,"  GEO.  W.  BAKER,  HUGH  LEWIS,  Capt.  ANGUS  R.  MCDONALD, 
EUGENE  BOWEN,  WM.  J.  JONES,  Mrs.  G.  P.  HEWITT,  Jr.,  O.  W. 
GREEN,  Mrs.  M.  IMOGENE  GREEN,  O.  H.  OLDROYD,  Mrs.  H.  C. 
CROCKER,  JOSEPH  LAWTON,  and  W.  W.  BARRETT,  especially,  for 
his  indefatigable  efforts  in  procuring  material  for  these  pages. 


12  INTRODUCTION. 

With  the  testimonials  of  these  friends  and  others,  in  military 
and  civil  relations,  as  vouchers  for  the  accuracy  of  my  history, 
I  here  respectfully  suhmit  it  to  the  patriotic  public,  as  an  attrac 
tive  episode  of  the  Great  Rebellion,  appropriate  to  the  Centen 
nial  of  American  Independence. 

J.  O.  B. 

GLEN  BEULAH,  Wis., 
Centennial  Year,  March,  1876. 


u 


OLD    ABE:" 

THE  LIVE  WAR- EAGLE  OF  WISCONSIN. 


CHAPTER  I. 

a  HE  EAGLE  A  NATIONAL  EMBLEM. 

What  heroes  from  the  woodland  sprung, 

When,  through  the  fresh  awakened  land, 
The  thrilling  cry  of  Freedom  rung  1  —  BKYANT. 

As  the  lion  is  king  of  beasts,  so  the  eagle  is  king 
of  birds.  Homer  calls  it  "  the  strong  sovereign  of  the 
plumy  race."  Xenophon  says:  "The  golden  eagle, 
with  extended  wings,  was  the  ensign  of  the  Persian 
monarchs  long  before  it  was  adopted  by  the  Romans. 
It  is  probable  the  Persians  borrowed  the  symbol  from 
the  Assyrians,  on  whose  banners  it  waved  till  imperial 
Babylon  bowed  her  head  to  the  yoke  of  Cyrus." 

The  great  banner  of  the  tribe  of  Dan,  borne  by  Prince 
Ahiezer,  was  of  a  bright  green  color,  charged  with 
an  eagle  as  a  component  part  of  the  cherubim,  denoting 
wisdom  and  sublimity.  The  eagle  was  considered  to  be 
the  symbol  of  Daniel,  because  he  spoke  with  angels 
and  received  visions  which  relate  to  all  time;  of  Christ, 
because  of  his  divine  nature;  of  John  the  Evangelist, 


14:  OLD  ABE. 

because  he  soars  to  heaven  in  Revelations.  The  eagle 
was  also  the  insignia  of  Egypt.  The  Etruscans  are 
reputed  to  be  the  first  who  adopted  the  eagle  as  the 
symbol  of  royal  honors,  and  bore  its  image  as  a  stand 
ard  at  the  head  of  th?ir  armies. 

"The  Romans  adopted  the  eagle  symbol  at  an  early  period  of 
their  history.  At  first,  according  to  Dionysias,  of  Halicarnassus, 
they  bound  it  to  the  scepter  of  their  kings;  afterwards,  when 
they  had  toppled  cL.Tn  the  throne,  they  made  it  the  ornament 
of  the  scepter  of  their  warrior  chiefs,  and  the  only  ensign  of 
their  legions.  Under  the  republic,  the  Roman  eagle  was  carved 
in  wood;  then  in  silver  with  a  thunderbolt  of  gold  in  its  talons. 
Caesar  was  the  first  who  had  the  whole  cast  in  gold,  but  he  de 
prived  it  of  tbj  thunderbolt  on  which  it  had  hitherto  rested. 
To  mark  his  '.ndefatigable  activity,  and  his  constant  yearning 
after  new  conquests,  the  Romans  always  represented  Caesar's 
eagle  with  outstretched  wings,  as  if  seeking  to  enclose  the  entire 
world  in  the  grasp  of  its  shadow." 

The  eagle  was  the  sacred  bird  of  the  Hindoos,  and  of 
the  Greek  Zeus.  With  the  Scandinavians,  it  was  the- 
bird  of  wisdom,  sitting  on  the  boughs  of  the  tree 
uggrasill.  The  double  headed  eagle  was  in  use  among 
the  Byzantine  Emperors,  "  to  indicate,"  it  is  said,  "  their 
claims  to  the  empire,  both  of  the  east  and  west."  It 
was  adopted  in  the  14th  century  by  the  German  Em 
perors.  The  arms  of  Prussia  were  distinguished  by  the 
black  eagle,  and  those  of  Poland  by  the  white.  Napo 
leon  adopted  it  as  the  emblem  of  imperial  France.  It 
was  not,  however,  represented  in  the  heraldic  styler 
but  in  its  natural  style,  with  the  thunderbolts  of  Jupi 
ter.  It  was  discarded  by  the  Bourbons,  but  was  re 
stored  by  the  decree  of  Louis  Napoleon,  Jan.  1, 1852. 


GREAT   SEAL.  15 

GEEAT   SEAL   OF  THE  LOOTED   STATES. 

At  the  time  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  July 
4,  1776,  Dr.  Benjamin  Franklin,  John  Adams  and 
Thomas  Jefferson  were  appointed  by  Congress  a  com 
mittee  to  prepare  a  device  for  a  great  seal  of  the  United 
States  of  America.  It  underwent  various  modifications 
from  year  to  year,  until  June  20,  1782,  our  present 
great  seal  was  adopted.  "  It  represents  the  escutcheon 
on  the  breast  of  the  American  eagle,  holding  in  his 
dexter  talon  an  olive  branch,  and  in  his  sinister  a  bun 
dle  of  thirteen  arrows,  and  in  his  beak  a  scroll  in 
scribed  with  this  motto:  E  Pluribus  Unum."  The 
olive  signifies  peace,  the  arrows,  war.  In  our  flag,  on 
which  the  eagle  is  sometimes  inscribed,  white  signifies 
purity  and  innocence;  red,  hardness  and  valor;  and 
blue,  vigilance,  perseverance  and  justice.  "The  es 
cutcheon  is  borne  on  the  breast  of  the  American  eagle 
without  any  other,  sup  porters,  to  denote  that  the  United 
States  of  America  ought  to  rely  on  their  own  virtue." 
Though  Mr.  Franklin  was  one  of  the  original  commit 
tee  for  the  device  thus  modified  and  adopted,  he  pays 
the  bald  eagle  a  poor  compliment  when  he  fancied  the 
turkey  would  be  more  appropriate  as  an  emblem,  be 
cause  it  is  indigenous  to  America.  In  one  of  his  letters 
he  says: 

"For  my  part,  I  wish  the  bald  eagle  had  not  been  chosen  as 
the  representative  of  our  country.  He  is  a  bird  of  bad  moral 
character;  he  does  not  get  his  living  honestly."  After  alluding 
to  his  tyranny  over  the  hawk,  he  continues:  "  With  all  this  in 
justice,  he  is  never  in  good  case,  but,  like  those  among  men  who 
live  by  robbing,  he  is  generally  poor;  besides,  he  is  a  rank 


16  OLD  ABE. 

coward;  the  little  king  bird,  not  bigger  than  a  sparrow,  attacks 
him  boldly  and  drives  him  out  of  the  district.  He  is  therefore 
by  no  means  a  proper  emblem  for  the  brave  and  civic  inmates 
of  America,  who  have  driven  all  the  king  birds  from  our  coun 
try,  though  exactly  fit  knights  which  the  French  call  chevaliers 

cPindustrie" 

t 

How  well  the  white  headed  eagle  represents  the 
Model  Republic,  let  the  incidents  and  facts  herein  related 
demonstrate.  Our  Eagle  could  tell  Dr.  Franklin  how 
much  there  is  in  military  discipline  to  develop  the 
latent  heroism  of  America,  both  in  men  and  birds. 

PETS   OF   SOLDIERS. 

It  is  no  uncommon  thing  for  soldiers  to  take  pet  ani 
mals  and  birds  to  the  war.  In  the  Crimean  campaign, 
the  Russians  carried  cats  on  their  knapsa,cks  in  all  their 
marches  and  battles.  Sometimes  they  rested  on  their 
masters'  shoulders  or  heads,  or  hung  dangling  on  their 
bayonets.  They  were  frequently  found  dead  on  the 
battle-fields.  During  the  whole  campaign  of  General 
McClellan  on  the  Peninsula,  a  Minnesota  regiment  had 
a  half-grown  bear  which  smelt  powder  in  a  dozen  en 
gagements,  and  was  sent  home  in  good  condition.  Sev 
eral  Wisconsin  regiments  had  badgers.  A  rebel  Arkan 
sas  regiment  went  into  the  fight  at  Shiloh  with  a  wild 
cat,  which  was  captured  by  the  Federals,  and  afterwards 
killed  by  accident.  Another  Southern  regiment  had  a 
pelican,  thus  representing  in  living  form  a  symbol  on 
the  belt  of  Confederate  soldiers.  The  49th  Illinois  took 
to  the  war  two  game  cocks  of  the  first-class  breed. 
Others  had  their  heroic  u  Polanders  "  and  "  Shanghais." 
A  Wisconsin  drummer  had  a  tame  squirrel ;  it  often 


PETS   OF   SOLDIERS.  17 

danced  to  martial  music,  and  spun  like  a  top  around  the 
rim  of  its  master's  drum.  The  12thjWisconsin  Battery 
had  a  coon,  which  was  taught  many  tricks,  to  while 
away  the  dull  hours  of  camp  life.  The  102d  Pennsyl 
vania  regiment  had  a  large  black-and-white  dog,  named 
"  Jack,"  which  was  in  about  twenty  battles  of  the  Poto 
mac  army.  At  Malvern  Hill,  he  was  wounded.  At 
Salem  Heights,  he  was  taken  prisoner,  and  remained 
with  his  regiment  six  months  on  Belle  Isle  ;  and  was 
also  a  prisoner  for  six  hours  at  the  battle  of  Middle- 
town.  "A  brave  soldier  dog,  intelligent  and  faithful, 
he  was  much  prized  by  all  the  members  of  his  regi 
ment." 

But,  of  all  the  pets  of  the  Union  regiments,  the 
"  Wisconsin  Eagle  "  is  the  most  popular,  and  his  career 
the  most  remarkable  and  brilliant.  He  is  a  true  Ameri 
can  specimen,  representing,  in  his  actual  bodily  pres 
ence,  the  sublimated  figure  on  our  national  escutcheon. 
When  in  good  condition,  his  weight  is  ten  and  a  half 
pounds.  His  breast  is  full  and  heavy,  trembling  with 
ardent  emotions.  His  head  is  large,  and  well  developed 
in  front,  towering  up  in  moral  aspect,  and  flattened  a 
little  toward  the  neck,  where  it  is  the  widest.  His  beak, 
measuring  two  and  three-quarter  inches,  bends  in  a 
semi-circle  over  the  mandible,  having  its  edges  cut 
sharp,  clear  to  the  point,  where  it  is  hard  as  steel  and 
of  a  beautiful  flint  color,  but  changing  gradually  toward 
the  base  into  a  sparkling  saffron.  The  neck  is  short 
and  thick,  the  body  large  and  symmetrical ;  the  wings 
are  long  and  tail  rounded  ;  the  legs  a  bright  yellow,  the 
tarsus  three  inches  long,  bare  for  the  lower  two-thirds, 


18  OLD  ABE. 

and  covered  with  hard,  tough  scales  ;  the  foot  short  and 
full ;  the  toes  free,  tuburculous  beneath ;  the  four 
curved  talons  on  each  foot  have  sharp  ends,  and  look 
like  grappling  steel ;  the  thighs  are  remarkably  thick, 
strong  and  muscular,  covered  with  long  feathers  pointing 
backwards  ;  the  conformation  of  the  wings  is  admirably 
adapted  for  the  support  of  so  large  a  bird,  measuring, 
from  tip  to  tip,  six  feet  and  a  half ;  length  of  one,  two 
feet  on  the  greater  quills,  the  longest  primaries  twenty 
inches,  and  upwards  of  one  inch  in  circumference  where 
they  enter  the  skin ;  the  scapulars  are  very  large  and 
broad,  spreading  from  the  back  to  the  wing  to  prevent 
the  air  from  passing  through.  The  plumage  is  compact 
and  imbricated  ;  the  feathers  on  the  breast,  back  and 
top  of  the  wings  are  a  dark  brown  with  a  changeable 
gloss ;  those  on  the  head,  neck  and  breast  are  narrow 
and  pointed ;  the  other  parts  more  rounded.  The 
general  color  of  the  plumage  is  brown  with  a  golden 
tinge  ;  the  head  and  greater  part  of  the  neck  and 
coverts  are  a  fine  snowy  white  ;  the  tail  is  also  whiter 
and  spotted  black  on  the  upper  feathers  for  about  half 
their  length;  the  quills  are  brownish  black  with  lighter 
shafts.  The  eyes  are  clear  and  round,  encircled  with 
yellow  papillary  linings,  fringed  on  their  inside  with 
thin,  elastic,  black  bands  or  plates,  like  concentric  rings; 
the  iris  is  a  brilliant  straw  color,  and  appears  like  the 
sky,  changing  in  luster  just  as  his  moods  are  ;  the  pupil 
is  large,  intensely  black  and  piercingly  sharp,  contract 
ing  and  expanding  with  microscopic  and  telescopic  ac 
tion  at  every  light  and  shade.  When  looking  backward, 
his  head  appears  in  as  natural  position  as  when  looking 


ENLISTMENT  AND  DEPARTURE.  19 

forward.  The  expression  of  his  eyes  is  most  fascinat 
ing;  when  inspired  with  ambition  it  is  a  burst  of  sun 
light  through  a  white  cloud;  when  angry,  every  feather 
in  ruffled  rage,  it  is  the  lightning  when  the  storm  is  on. 
He  moves  with  grace  and  dignity,  ever  riveting  the  at 
tention  of  the  observer.  Withal,  he  is  majestic,  having 
the  intelligent  air  and  heroism  of  a  warrior  grown  bald 
in  the  service  of  his  country. 

ENLISTMENT   AND   DEPARTURE  FOR  THE  WAR, 

If  peace  can  be  emblemized  by  a  dove  —  which  Noah 
"sent  forth  to  see  if  the  waters  were  abated  from  off  the 
face  of  the  ground,"  the  second  time  returning  "  unto 
him  in  the  evening,  and,  lo!  in  her  mouth  was  an  olive 
leaf  plucked  off"-- why  not  war  by  an  eagle?  Is  not 
one  as  much  a  bird  of  heaven  as  the  other?  Among 
the  significant  devices  of  strategy  and  battle,  drawn 
perhaps  by  unseen  agencies  in  the  solemn  councils  of 
the  nation,  where  brave  men  and  women  appealed  to  the 
Lord  of  Hosts  for  protection,  what  more  fitting  than 
that  an  eagle,  from  the  evergreen  forests  of  the  Great 
West,  should  descend  from  his  eyrie  to  herald  the  march 
of  armies  in  the  morning  of  a  revolution  for  freedom? 

Though  the  emblem  was  thus  strikingly  illustrative 
of  the  hopes  that  hung  upon  the  coming  contest, 
there  was  some  hesitancy  about  accepting  it  by  the  Eau 
Claire  Volunteers;  but  through  the  sagacity  and  fore 
sight  of  R.  F.  Wilson,  an  influential  resident,  who 
argued  "  nothing  could  be  better  chosen,  not  even  the 
flag  itself,  to  ensure  fame  and  success,"  they  looked  up 
on  it  in  favorable  light,  and  after  a  surgeon-like  exami- 


20  OLD   ABE. 

nation  of  the  eyes,  claws,  beak,  wings  and  plum 
age,  concluded  by  a  jocose  vote  to  accept  "  the  new  re 
cruit  from  Chippewa."  A  little  flurry  ensued  about 
contributions,  when  S.  M.  Jeffers,  a  civilian,  purchased 
the  bird  for  two  dollars  and  a  half,  and  presented  it 
to  the  company.  In  due  time  the  Eagle  was  sworn  in 
to  the  United  States  service  by  putting  around  his  neck 
red,  white  and  blue  ribbons,  and  on  his  breast  a  rosette 
of  the  same  colors.  James  McGinnis  craved  the  priv 
ilege  of  superintending  the  eagle,  to  which  all  tacitly 
assented.  In  a  few  days  he  produced  quite  a  respect 
able  perch;  and  two  patriotic  ladies  made  some  little 
flags  to  be  carried  on  each  side  of  him,  when  on  the 
march;  and  gay  and  imposing  indeed  did  he  appear  as 
he  rode  in  imperial  state  beneath  those  miniature  "  stars 
and  stripes,"  through  the  principal  streets  of  Eau  Claire, 
inspired  by  martial  music  and  cheered  by  the  enthusi 
astic  people.  The  Eau  Claire  Free  Press,  of  September 
5,  1861,  published  the  first  newspaper  notice  of  his 
honor: 

"  The  Eau  Claire  Badgers  are  going  into  battle  under  the  pro- 
tective  segis  of  the  veritable  American  Eagle.  It  was  captured 
by  the  Indians  of  the  Chippewa  River,  and  purchased  by  the 
Badgers.  Its  perch  is  to  be  the  flag-staff  of  the  Stars  and 
Stripes.  Who  could  not  fight  under  so  glorious  emblems  ?  " 

On  the  morning  of  the  6th  of  September,  1861,  the 
merry  drum  beat  the  muster  roll  with  unusual  vigor  in 
Eau  Claire,  and  every  volunteer  answered  to  the  call 
with  an  alacrity  that  betokened  an  earnest  will.  Some 
even  danced  as  they  stood  inline;  others,  more  thought 
ful,  were  calm,  appreciating  the  seriousness  of  the  occa- 


ENLISTMENT  AND   DEPARTURE.  ,  21 

sion,  and  just  as  resolute  to  depart  for  their  country's 
battles. 

"Forward!"  shouted  the  Captain  with  emphasis,  and 
on  moved  the  company,  led  by  martial  music  and  the 
Eagle  carried  under  the  new  made  banner  that  had  just 
before  been  presented  by  the  women  of  the  Ladies'  Aid 
Society.  It  was  a  proud  moment.  What  a  sacrifice, 
what  a  strength  of  patriotism,  what  a  price  to  pay  for 
liberty,  what  a  splendor  of  self-denial,  when  those 
fathers,  mothers  and  sisters,  crowding  near,  as  if  to  as 
suage  a  soldier's  anguish,  said  in  every  rainbowed  tear, 
and  look  and  prayer  —  "Go,  my  son!"  "Go,  my 
brother! "  "  my  husband!  "  A  cold  drizzling  rain  beat 
down  from  the  northwest,  but  scarcely  was  it  noticed, 
so  absorbed  was  the  crowd  in  the  intense  feeling  of  the 
parting  hour: 

"  Shout,  sob,  and  greeting, 

Love's  deep  devotion  constantly  meeting." 

The  company  and  people  moved  slowly  to  the  levee 
on  the  Chippewa  River,  where  lay  the  steamer  "  Stella 
Whipple"  Held  back  by  the  entreaties  of  weeping 
friends,  Capt.  John  E.  Perkins  found  it  difficult  to  get 
his  men  on  board.  What  a  strange  commingling  in 
association  —  the  vast  crowd  standing  in  the  rain,  weepers 
many,  soldiers  resolute,  and,  on  board  the  steamer,  the 
Eagle  lifted  high  on  his  perch  by  his  Bearer,  alone  on 
the  upper  deck.  He  seemed  a  Roman  soldier,  while  the 
Eagle,  delighting  in  the  storm  and  excitement,  occasion 
ally  shook  the  wet  from  his  pinions  and  flapped  his 
wings,  at  which  the  little  boys  exclaimed,  "See!  the 


22  OLD  ABE. 

Eagle  is  playing  in  the  rain;  lie  spattered  drops  right 
here ;  bully  for  the  Eagle !  "  After  much  parleying  and 
managing,  there  was  a  general  movement  of  the  volun 
teers  toward  the  steamer.  The  bell  rung,  the  engine 
sprung  to  duty,  off  swung  the  "  Stella  Whipple  "  in  a 
graceful  curve,  and,  just  as  she  reached  the  current,  three 
cheers  from  the  people  on  the  shore  greeted  that  stal 
wart  band,  and  hands,  throwing  kisses,  and  voices 
choked  by  tears,  gave  the  patriotic  "  good  by!  " 

Toward  evening  of  the  next  day,  when  within  hail 
ing  distance  of  La  Crosse,  Wisconsin,  the  steamer  sent 
forth  her  semi-bugle  notes,  announcing  arrival.  In  ten 
minutes  the  news  w^as  heralded  through  the  city,  that  a 
"  Company  of  soldiers  from  the  Chippewa  Valley  has 
come  with  a  live  American  Eagle!  "  Crowds  lined  the 
wharf,  and,  just  as  the  boat  landed,  a  salute  from  the 
1st  Wisconsin  Battery,  by  order  of  Capt.  Foster,  was 
fired,  followed  by  cheers  from  civilians  and  soldiers. 
All  eyes  were  upon  the  Eagle,  and  deafening  were  the 
hurrahs  in  his  favor.  It  was  a  thrilling  enthusiasm  of 
all  that  heaving  mass  of  patriots.  Capt.  Perkins  was 
here  offered  two  hundred  dollars  for  the  Eagle.  Quite  a 
sudden  rise  in  value  from  a  bushel  of  corn.  Courteous 
ly  declining,  the  Captain  replied,  "  The  Eagle  belongs 
to  the  company,  and  no  money  can  buy  him." 

AUGURY  OF  SUCCESS. 

Arriving  at  Madison,  on  the  9th,  the  company  marched 
to  a  martial  quick-step  through  the  principal  streets  of 
the  city,  passing  the  Capitol,  the  colors  and  Eagle  dis 
played  in  fine  style.  The  reception  was  earnest.  At 


AUGURY  OF  SUCCESS.  23 

Camp  Randall  was  a  most  inspiriting  scene.  As  the  com 
pany  approached  the  hill,  its  musicians  struck  up  the . 
tune  of  u  Yankee  Doodle."  The  7th  Wisconsin  and 
fractional  parts  of  the  8th  were  there  awaiting  acces 
sions  ;  seeing  the  Eau  Claire  Badgers  and  their  Eagle 
coming,  they  ran  to  the  gate  of  entrance  and  opened 
right  and  left.  During  all  this  commotion,  the  majestic 
bird  sat  quietly  on  his  perch  ;  but  just  as  the  company 
was  passing  the  gate,  defiling  between  those  living  rows 
of  spectators,  with  a  dart  of  his  piercing  eye  to  the  flag 
floating  close  over  his  head,  the  Eagle  seized  one  end  of 
it  within  his  beak,  and  spread  his  wings  with  a  continu 
ously  flapping  motion,  expressive  of  inspirational  ambi 
tion.  It  was  spontaneous;  the  bird  seemed  to  under 
stand  his  mission,  and  grandly  did  he  illustrate  it  as  he 
proudly  held  the  flag  during  the  time  of  crossing  the 
grounds,  through  the  excited  crowd,  to  the  front  of  Col. 
R.  C.  Murphy's  headquarters.  A  correspondent  of  the 
Eau  Claire  Free  Press  thus  describes  it : 

"When  the  regiment  marched  into  Camp  Randall,  the  instant 
the  men  began  to  cheer,  he  spread  his  wings,  and  taking  one  of 
the  small  flags  attached  to  his  perch  in  his  beak,  he  remained  in 
that  position  until  borne  to  the  quarters  of  the  late  Col.  Murphy." 

The  Madison  State  Journal,  of  the  10th,  thus  men 
tions  the  incident : 

"An  incident  occurred  yesterday,  as  the  Chippewa  company 
arrived  at  Camp  Randall.  They  bore  in  advance  of  them  a  plat 
form  on  which  was  a  live  eagle,  surmounted  by  a  small  Ameri 
can  flag.  Just  as  they  entered  camp,  the  eagle  expanded  his 
wings  and  seized  the  flag  in  his  beak.  The  incident  attracted 
much  attention,  and  if  it  had  happened  in  other  days,  in  a  Roman 


24:  OLD   ABE. 

camp,  would  have  been  regarded  by  the  augurs  as  a  singularly 
favorable  omen." 

NEW  PERCH. 

At  Madison,  the  Eagle's  visitors  numbered  thousands, 
and  among  them  were  dignitaries  of  civil  and  military 
professions.  Here,  by  Capt.  Perkins,  he  was  donned 
with  the  title  of  "  Old  Abe,"  in  honor  of  Abraham  Lin 
coln,  the  faithful  President  and  patriot.  By  vote  of  the 
company,  the  u  Badgers  "  were  to  be  styled  the  "  Eau 
Claire  Eagles,"  and,  by  voice  of  the  people,  the  Eighth 
Wisconsin  was  designated  as  the  "Eagle  Regiment." 
As  the  Eagle  was  then  a  soldier  bird,  sworn  into  the 
service  of  his  country,  Quartermaster  Francis  L.  Billings, 
at  the  expense  of  the  State,  had  a  new  perch  construct 
ed.  It  was  a  shield  in  the  shape  of  a  heart,  on  which 
was  inscribed  the  "stars  and  stripes,"  and  along  the 
base  were  legibly  painted,  "  8th  Reg.  W.  V."  Raised  a 
few  inches  above  the  shield  was  a  grooved  cross-piece 
for  the  Eagle's  roost,  and  on  each  end  of  it  were  three 
arrows,  pointing  outwards,  representing  war  as  in  the 
great  seal  of  the  United  States.  In  the  shuffle  of  war 
these  were  broken  off.  Evidently  such  a  perch  must 
have  been  a  heavy  weight  for  one  soldier  to  carry,  dur 
ing  the  long  and  tiresome  marches  through  the  enemy's 
country  ;  but  he  had  no  other  task  than  this,  under 
strict  orders  to  care  faithfully  for  the  bird.  When  in 
line,  the  Eagle  rode  always  on  the  left  of  the  color  bearer, 
in  the  van  of  the  regiment.  In  battle  or  march,  the 
Eagle  was  carried  in  the  same  manner  as  the  flag.  The 
Bearer  had  a  belt  around  him,  to  which  was  attached  a 
socket  to  receive  the  end  of  the  staff,  which  was  about 


TRANSIT   THROUGH   CHICAGO.  25 

five  feet  long.  Holding  it  firmly  in  his  hand,  the  Bearer 
thus  raised  the  Eagle  high  above  his  head,  in  plain  sight 
of  the  column.  A  leathern  ring  was  fastened  to  one  of 
the  Eagle's  legs,  to  which  was  connected  a  strong  hemp 
cord  from  sixteen  to  twenty  feet  long.  When  marching, 
or  in  an  engagement,  the  surplus  cord  was  wound  around 
the  arrow  head,  leaving  the  Eagle  but  about  three  feet 
length,  or  just  enough  to  circumscribe  him  to  his  shield. 

TRANSIT   THROUGH  CHICAGO. 

On  the  12th  of  October,  1861,  the  aggregate  strength 
being  nine  hundred  and  ninety  men,  the  regiment,  un 
der  command  of  Col.  Murphy,  took  its  departure  for  the 
theater  of  war.  As  the  long  train  of  cars  passed  through 
the  villages  and  cities  of  Wisconsin,  great  was  the  en 
thusiasm  of  the  people;  they  poured  forth  rounds  of 
cheers  that  fired  every  soldier  with  electric  inspiration. 
At  Janesville,  the  crowd  was  immense  and  intensely 
excited.  It  will  be  remembered  that  Rock  county  had 
given  the  first  fruits  of  her  patriotism  to  the  country  — 
company  G,  of  the  Eighth,  led  by  Capt.  Win.  B.  Brit- 
ton  —  hence  the  peculiar  interest  of  the  people  on  the 
occasion. 

After  a  continuous  ovation  through  the  whole  line  of 
route,  the  regiment  arrived  in  Chicago,  near  the  close 
of  the  day,  and  marched  through  the  city  with  the 
Eagle  under  the  colors.  How  the  scene  electrified 
Chicago  !  A  correspondent  of  the  Eau  Claire  Free 
Press  says: 

"Formed  in  platoons,  we  took  our  way  through  the  city,  our 
Colonel  and  Governor  Alex.  Randall  leading  us  on  horseback. 


26  OLD   ABE. 

Our  progress  was  marked  by  many  demonstrations  of  enthusi 
asm —  tbe  regiment  as  a  whole,  and  our 'glorious  bird'  carried 
alolt  at  the  head  of  our  company,  appearing  to  divide  about 
equally  the  general  attention  and  applause.  I  fancied  the  Eagle 
seemed  for  once  to  be  of  more  importance  than  the  '  Eagles,'  and 
received  cheers  and  flattering  comment  enough  to  spoil  any  less 
sensible  bird." 

The  Chicago  Tribune,  under  date  of  October  13,  thus 
alludes  to  the  reception: 

"A  noticeable  feature  among  them  was  the  Chippewa  Eagles — 
Capt.  Perkins'  company —  a  company  of  the  first-class  stalwart 
fellows.  The  live  Eagle  which  they  brought  with  them  was  an 
object  of  much  curiosity.  He  is  a  majestic  bird  and  well 
trained.  When  marching,  the  Eagle  is  carried  at  the  head  of 
the  company,  elevated  on  a  perch  at  the  top  of  a  pole.  The 
Eagle  was  caught  on  the  head  waters  of  the  Chippewa  River  by 
an  Indian.  Capt.  Perkins'  company  takes  it  to  the  war.  The 
men  were  offered  a  large  sum  for  it  in  Madison,  but  they  will 
not  part  with  it.  They  swear  it  shall  never  be  taken  by  the 
enemy.  No  doubt  the  Chippewa  Eagles  and  their  pet  bird  will 
be  heard  of  again." 

HERALDRY  OF  FREEDOM   Itf  ST.   LOUIS. 

On  the  morning  of  the  14th,  the  regiment  arrived  at  the 
Mississippi,  opposite  St.  Louis.  The  ferry-boat  steamed 
to  the  shore  and  received  the  "Wisconsin  cargo1'  with 
brisk  orders.  When  approaching  the  city,  the  band 
played  the  "  Star  Spangled  Banner,"  hearing  which,  the 
ladies  waved  their  handkerchiefs  in  proud  welcome. 
Knowing  that  Union  soldiers  had  recently  been  fired 
upon  by  rebel  citizens,  difficulties  were  anticipated; 
but,  what  was  their  surprise,  instead  of  rebels,  Union 
ists  showed  signs  of  belligerency.  What  did  it  mean? 
Like  the  Confederates,  our  soldiers  were  then  dressed  in 


HERALDRY   OF   FREEDOM.  27 

gray,  and,  therefore,  were  at  first  taken  for  a  rebel  regi 
ment.  Though  excessively  hot,  they  were  obliged  to 
put  on  their  blue  overcoats  to  satisfy  the  patriotic 
populace  that  had  been  outraged  a  few  days  before. 
When  the  regiment  was  preparing  to  enter  one  of  the 
principal  streets,  a  promiscuous  crowd  huddled  around, 
and,  seeing  the  Eagle,  cried  out,  "a  crow!11  "a  wild 
goose!1'  ua  turkey  buzzard!11  As  if  resolved  upon  a 
demonstration  of  defiance  to  these  insults  against  his 
highness,  "  Old  Abe,1'  crouching  low  for  a  spring,  half- 
poising  his  wings,  sprung  impetuous,  breaking  the  cord 
that  held  him  to  his  perch,  and  scud  just  over  the  heads 
of  the  niotle}7'  crowd,  even  flapping  a  few  caps  with  the 
tips  of  his  pinions,  and,  thence  shooting  higher,  sailed 
up,  up,  a  thousand  voices  shouting  after  him,  and  ma 
jestically  alighted  upon  the  chimney  of  an  aristocratic 
mansion.  The  whole  regiment  was  thrown  into  excite 
ment,  especially  company  C,  that  could  scarcely  be 
wheeled  into  rank  and  file  for  marching  order  through 
the  city.  In  the  general  confusion,  several  soldiers 
sped  after  their  Eagle,  scattering  in  different  alleys  and 
constantly  watching  him  on  his  inaccessible  eyrie.  The 
flight  heightened  the  curiosity  of  the  spectators.  Be 
ing  informed  it  was  an  Eagle  from  the  North,  they 
were  in  ecstasies.  Meantime,  "  Old  Abe  "  sat  on  his  new 
perch  of  a  chimney,  leisurely  surveying  the  sea  of 
heads,  and,  after  a  half  hour's  liberty  alone  in  his  glory, 
scooped  down  to  an  obscure  sidewalk,  where  he  was 
caught,  and  thence  conveyed  to  his  regiment. 

This  being  the  first  band  of  warriors  from  the  North 
west,  bringing,  too,  a  live  Eagle,  with  the  loyal  people 


28  OLD  ABE. 

the  reception  was  magnificent.  "  The  little  darkies 
hurrahed  for  the  Union,  and  one  old  4  Dinah,'  in  par 
ticular,  will  be  long  remembered,  she  laughed  so  hearti 
ly,  showing  her  white  teeth  and  ;  big  eyes,1  and  crying 
out  at  the  top  of  her  voice,  '  Go  in,  boys !  go  in !  God 
bress  ye! ' r  Halting  at  one  of  the  principal  hotels,  the 
regiment  was  welcomed  to  the  city  by  Governor  Gam 
ble,  who,  in  the  course  of  his  patriotic  address,  fre 
quently  pointed  to  the  Eagle,  cheered  by  the  soldiers. 
Arriving  at  Benton  Barracks,  they  were  addressed  by 
Secretary  Cameron  and  Gen.  Thomas,  who  highly  com 
plimented  them  for  their  fine  appearance,  with  a  good 
word  for  "  Old  Abe." 

A  gentleman  in  St.  Louis  offered  the  company  five 
hundred  dollars  for  the  Eagle;  and,  somewhere  in  the 
South,  subsequent  to  this,  an  Illinoisian  offered  a  valua 
ble  farm.  Coming  up  from  a  bushel  of  corn!  But  all 
proffers  of  this  kind  were  declined.  Capt.  Perkins'  say 
ing  became  proverbial  —  u  No  money  can  buy  him." 


ON  TO  THE  FRONT.  29 


CHAPTER  II. 
ON  TO  THE  FRONT.' 


"  For  thee  they  fought,  for  thee  they  fell, 

And  their  oath  oil  thee  was  laid; 
To  thee  the  clarions  raised  their  swell, 

And  the  dying  warrior  prayed. 
Thou  wert,  thro1  an  age  of  death  and  fears, 

The  image  of  pride  and  power, 
Till  the  gathered  rage  of  a  thousand  years, 

Burst  forth  in  one  awful  hour." 


SCARCELY  had  the  regiment  unpacked,  ere  it  was 
ordered  to  advance,  and,  on  the  evening  of  the  15th 
of  October,  1861,  that  inexperienced  band  rushed 
forward  On  their  long  and  perilous  adventure.  Who 
could  read  the  future?  Could  that  prophet  bird  of  sun- 
lighted  vision  ?  It  was  a  gala  time.  At  Big  River  —  the 
bridge  burned  by  the  enemy  —  as  the  men  transported 
their  baggage  across  on  their  backs,  wading  waist  deep, 
the  Eagle,  noticing  the  ripples  and  fishes,  whistled  a  merry 
note  with  the  rest.  The  feeling  was  universal,  that  no 
better  companion  could  inspire  hilarity  and  enthusiasm 
under  difficulties.  As  he  led  the  van  of  the  column,  in 
sight  of  all  the  soldiers,  over  that  variegated  country, 
and  thence  in  all  their  subsequent  marches,  he  was  not 
only  a  constant  reminder  of  their  oath  of  trust,  but  of 
loftiness  of  ambition.  He  often  played  under  the  wav 
ing  colors,  watching  other  birds  in  the  far-up  blue 


30  OLD  ABE. 

where  no  human  eye  could  penetrate,  panting  and  as 
piring  to  rise  on  peerless  wing,  monarch  of  all. 

"  An  eagle  has  the  power  of  altering  the  focus  of  his  eye  just 
as  he  pleases;  he  has  only  to  look  at  an  object  at  the  distance  of 
two  feet  or  two  miles,  in  order  to  see  it  with  perfect  distinctness. 
The  ball  of  his  eye  is  surrounded  by  fifteen  little  plates,  called 
sclerotic  bones;  they  form  a  complete  ring,  and  their  edges 
slightly  overlap  each  other.  When  he  looks  at  a  distant  object, 
this  little  circle  of  bones  expands,  and  the  ball  of  the  eye  being 
relieved  from  the  pressure, becomes  flatter;  and  when  he  looks  at 
a  very  near  object,  the  little  bones  press  together,  and  the  ball  of 
the  eye  is  thus  squeezed  into  a  rounder  or  more  convex  form; 
the  effect  is  very  familiar  to  everybody;  a  person  with  very 
round  eyes  is  near-sighted,  and  only  sees  clearly  an  object  that 
is  close  to  him;  and  a  person  with  flat  eyes,  as  in  old  age,  can 
see  nothing  clearly  except  at  a  distance;  the  eagle,  by  the  mere 
will,  can  make  his  eyes  round  or  flat,  and  see  with  equal  clear 
ness  at  any  distance." 

A  BATTLE. 

A  march  all  night,  on  the  20th,  a  sleep  in  the  streets 
of  Fredericktown,  Missouri,  till  noon,  a  reinforcement, 
and  —  hark!  —  the  hugle  calls;  the  enemy  is  discerned 
in  the  woods.  There  is  hot  haste;  it  is  such  an  earnest .r 
The  Eighth  is  a  reserve.  Chained  on  the  roof  of  the  court 
house,  only  half  a  mile  distant  from  the  scene  of  action,, 
the  Eagle  sees  the  rush  and  line  of  dark- winged  battle. 
His  trepidation  is  that  of  a  soldier  when  going  to  face 
death.  There  comes  the  clash  of  arms,  the  spurring  of 
the  ambulances,  the  wounded  soldier  returned,  bleed 
ing,  groaning,  dying ;  he  is  wild  with  excitement,  revel 
ing  and  tearing,  and,  one  observer  says,  "  gnawing  his 
perch  with  his  beak,"  as  if  crazed  at  the  new  exper- 


ABE  AND   THE   DOG  FRANK.  31 

ience,  but  calras  down  with  the  lull  of  battle  —  the  first 
victory ! 

"There  fell  a  moment's  silence  round, — 
A  breathless  pause !  —  a  hush  of  hearts  that  beat, 
And  limbs  that  quivered." 

"  ABE  "  AND   THE   DOG  "  FRANK." 

After  winter  quarters  at  Sulphur  Springs,  Mo.,  "  Old 
Abe  "  was  next  seen  at  Cairo,  111.  Up  to  this  date,  Jan 
uary  19,  1862,  he  had  experienced  enough  of  military 
life  to  render  him  stern  and  heroic.  Like  the  soldiers, 
he  was  sure  to  retaliate  injuries  ;  his  motto  was  American 
• — justice.  One  of  his  playmates  was  the  dog  "  Frank," 
that  voluntarily  came  to  the  regiment  whilst  at  Madison. 
The  Eagle  felt  an  Epicurean  interest  in  this  animal,  on 
account  of  the  spoils  of  the  hunt.  Whenever  he  heard 
that  sharp,  familiar  bark  in  the  woods,  he  would  bend 
low  his  head  to  catch  the  welcome  sound,  for  it  beto 
kened  a  fresh  meal ;  and  the  moment  the  canine  hunter 
returned  with  a  squirrel  or  rabbit  in  his  mouth,  such 
a  coaxing  from  the  perch,  such  a  chuckling  and  rus 
tling  of  wings,  such  a  grateful  u  Thank  you,  Frank  !" 
In  the  absence  of  more  agreeable  company,  the  sol 
diers  were  real  Selkirks,  whiling  away  monotonous* 
hours  in  teaching  these  pets  various  cunning  tricks. 
Thus  a  mutual  attachment  sprung  up  between  them, 
constituting  at  length  a  "  marriage  on  interest,"  and 
quite  happily  did  they  live  together  in  their  odd  asso 
ciation,  mutually  sharing  the  patrimony  of  their  friends. 
But,  as  is  common  with  such  "  unions,"  a  divorce  took 
place  under  the  most  unfortunate  circumstances  : 


32  OLD   ABE. 

One  day  there  was  a  constant  draft  upon  his  patience; 
but  this  he  could  have  endured,  had  no  one  tormented 
him  with  sticks  and  mockings.  Feeling  forbearance  too 
long  suffered  is  no  Eagle  virtue,  he  bit,  and  tore,  and 
yelled,  but  could  not  get  near  enough  to  his  besiegers 
to  vindicate  his  sense  of  justice.  Unfortunately  "  Frank  n 
came  within  the  circle  of  his  cord,  and,  quick  as  light 
ning,  he  pounced  upon  him,  sticking  his  talons  into  the 
hide,  and  "  making  the  fur  fly."  Such  a  povv-wow  was 
never  before  heard  in  a  military  camp.  Ever  after, 
"  Frank "  kept  at  a  respectful  distance,  and  from  that 
time  "  Abe "  has  had  an  eternal  hatred  for  dogs.  He 
evidently  believed  they  were  not  "  well  mated." 

Early  the  next  spring,  the  u  Eagles  "  moved  to  New 
Madrid,  and,  on  the  llth  of  March,  occupied  rifle  pits  at 
Point  Pleasant,  preventing  rebel  transportation  to  Island 
No.  10,  and  frolicking  with  cannon  and  shell,  "  Old 
Abe  "  often  sending  a  scream  to  the  boys  from  the  camp 
near  by,  enjo}7ing  the  "  pegging  business "  with  the 
rest.  The  gunboat  u  Carondolet "  sweeping  both  shores 
of  rebel  batteries,  the  island  captured,  the  Eagle  chased 
the  flying  enemy,  and  saw  his  comrades  seize  six  thou 
sand  prisoners,  who,  beholding  this  living  emblem  of 
national  fealty,  "  quailed  before  his  piercing  look,  that 
sent  the  fire  of  convicting  justice  to  their  hearts." 

The  opening  of  the  Mississippi,  by  conquest  of  that 
blockade  of  batteries,  nearly  to  Memphis,  was  the  be 
ginning  of  a  series  of  victories,  so  important,  Gen.  J.  B. 
Plummer  commanding  the  brigade  of  the  "  Eagles,"  an 
nounced  the  order  of  Gen.  Pope,  for  all  the  regiments 
and  battalions  of  his  command  to  inscribe  on  their  flag, 


STRATEGY  AT   EARMIXGTOK.  33 

"  New  Madrid  and  Island  No.  10."  As  "  Old  Abe  "  rode 
under  these  new  colors,  lie  appeared  indeed  the  u  Bird 
of  Jove,"  that  u  armed  the  skies." 

STRATEGY  AT   FARMLNGTOST. 

Proud  of  their  achievement,  aiming  at  a  test  of  the 
strength  of  the  enemy  at  Corinth,  "the  Army  of  the 
Eagle  "  sailed  up  the  Ohio  and  Tennessee  rivers,  stop 
ping  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  where  lay  the  "  Blue  and 
the  Gray  "  —  peaceful  now  in  half-covered  graves.  Dis 
embarking  at  Hamburg,  in  quest  of  Gen.  Beauregard, 
they  at  length  formed  in  line  of  battle  at  Farmington, 
Miss.,  on  the  9th  of  May,  1862,  Maj.  Jefferson  com 
manding  the  outposts.  The  odds  were  great  — 25,000 
of  the  enemy  against  one  brigade.  The  "  Eagles  "  and 
26th  Illinois  were  sent  forth  to  rake  the  woods.  Up 
rose  the  foe,  quick,  sullen,  defiant ;  but  these  two  regi 
ments  held  the  ground  for  half  an  hour  in  that  raking 
fire.  Anxious  for  "  Old  Abe,"  Capt.  Perkins  ordered  the 
Bearer  to  keep  well  in  the  rear,  but  within  hailing  dis 
tance  of  his  company.  As  the  hosts  of  the  enemy 
pressed  on,  nothing  could  stand  before  the  swath  of  de 
struction.  Simultaneously,  they  prostrated  themselves 
on  the  ground,  in  the  open  field  behind  a  knoll,  the 
leaden  rain  pouring  over  them.  Not  being  conspicuously 
exposed,  the  Bearer  determined  to  remain  upright,  but 
the  Eagle,  seeing  the  men  lying  there,  imitated  their 
example.  He  was  picked  up,  with  stern  orders  to  keep 
his  perch,  but  refused  to  obey.  This  experiment  was 
tried  five  or  six  times.  Giving  him  his  own  way,  "  Jim ' 
at  last  threw  the  perch  on  the  ground,  and  crouched  low 
3 


34:  OLD   ABE. 

with  the  rest,  when  the  Eagle  crept  close  to  his  side,  re 
maining  so  till,  at  the  bugle  sound,  he  leaped  volunta 
rily  to  his  perch  with  the  rising  of  the  men,  a  signal  of 
heroism  through  all  the  battle.  The  author  of  a  little 
work,  entitled  u  Army  Life  and  Stray  Shots  from  a  Staff 
Officer  of  the  Eighth  Regiment  Wisconsin  Volunteers," 
thus  describes  this  scene: 

"At  the  battle  of  Farmington,  May  9,  1862,  the  men  were  or- 
dered  to  lie  down.  The  instant  they  did  so,  it  was  impossible 
to  keep  him  upon  his  perch.  He  insisted  on  being  protected  as 
well  as  they,  and,  when  liberated,  flattened  himself  on  the 
ground,  and  there  remained  till  the  men  arose ;  when,  with  out 
spread  wings,  he  resumed  his  place  of  peril  and  held  it  till  the 
close  of  the  contest." 

David  McLane,  a  member  of  company  C,  says,  in  a 
letter  dated  "  Camp  near  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  Feb.  18, 1865: 

"  The  first  fight  the  Eagle  was  in  was  the  battle  of  Farming- 
ton,  Miss.,  where  he  showed  a  great  deal  of  sagacity.  When  we 
were  ordered  to  lie  down  on  the  ground,  under  a  dreadful  artil 
lery  fire  from  the  enemy's  batteries,  he  flew  off  his  perch,  get 
ting  as  low  as  he  could,  and  lay  there  until  he  saw  the  regiment 
rise  to  advance,  when  he  flew  upon  his  perch  again,  and  re 
mained  there  through  the  engagement." 

In  this  battle  fell  Capt.  Perkins,  mortally  wounded  — • 
a  brave  soldier  and  true  patriot  —  Lieut.  Victor  Wolf 
succeeding  in  command.  In  his  report,  Gen.  Palmer 
highly  complimented  the  "Regiment  that  bore  the 
Eagle." 

"  Old  Abe "  was  in  the  battle  before  Corinth,  on  the 
28th  of  May.  As  the  whole  army  sent  up  its  shout  at 
sight  of  the  Union  flag  on  the  enemy's  works,  he,  the 
heraldry  of  the  victory,  was  seen  "  whirling  and  danc- 


UNDERGOING   DISCIPLINE.  35 

ing  on  his  perch.1'  Battles  made  him  voracious.  A 
soldier  avers  that,  soon  after  the  cheering,  while  he  was 
eating  a  rabbit,  the  bugle  of  his  regiment  calling  to  pur 
sue  the  enemy,  a  convalescent  soldier  ordered  him  to 
mount  his  standard,  when,  as  if  appreciating  the  ur 
gency  of  the  moment,  "Old  Abe"  devoured  the  remain 
ing  half  with  one  swallow,  and  leaped  to  his  perch,  wip 
ing  his  beak  as  he  rode  to  the  colors,  saying,  in  his 
manner,  "  Well  equipped,  boys!"  When  at  the  front, 
the  question  rose,  "Who  shall  carry  the  Eagle?"  his 
Bearer  being  sick.  Among  the  many  voluntary  appli 
cants,  Capt.  Wolf  selected  Thomas  J.  Hill,  of  Eau 
Claire,  remarking,  "Tom  is  worthy  of  it."  Shoulder 
ing  his  living  musket,  "  Tom,"  in  his  hurry  to  keep  up, 
unavoidably  entered  a  clump  of  bushes,  where  "  Old 
Abe  "  initiated  his  new  Bearer  into  the  apprenticeship 
of  the  "  perch  business."  Getting  entangled,  he  tore 
away  exasperated,  but  was  hustled  up  rather  roughly, 
when,  wishing  to  give  his  master  a  trial  of  his  mili 
tary  patience,  "Abe"  stuck  his  talons  into  his  face; 
but  no  court  martial  was  held! 

UNDERGOING  DISCIPLINE. 

Scattering  the  enemy,  "Old  Abe's"  brigade  went 
into  summer  quarters  near  Clear  Creek,  in  a  charming 
locality.  Here  he  attended  his  "  military  school."  The 
live  long  days  he  busied  himself —  running  at  large  — 
catching  crazy  bugs  with  his  claws  in  puddles  of  water, 
fishing  by  "  make-believes  "  in  the  creek,  catching  bul 
lets  rolled  upon  the  ground,  running  off  with  the  ball 
in  the  hilarious  game,  tipping  over  water  pails,  visiting 


36  OLD   ABE. 

the  sutlers  tent,  tearing  up  the  soldiers'  clothes  there 
hung  upon  the  line,  with  no  chance  for  indemnity,  for 
"  too  much  indulgence  spoils  the  child,"  and  "  the  con 
quering  party  dictates  terms."  One  day  a  soldier  cut 
off  the  heads  of  some  chickens,  and  left  them  a  few 
moments  to  nutter,  while  preparing  to  cook  them,  when 
"  Old  Abe "  noticed  the  movement  at  a  little  distance 
down  the  street,  and  slily  hurried  to  the  spot,  passing 
some  soldiers,  who  warned  the  cook  of  the  foraging 
attitude;  and  as  the  man  turned  to  look  for  his  chick 
ens  in  one  direction,  "Abe,"  perceiving  one  in  the  grass 
just  behind  him,  snatched  it  up  and  whirled  off  like  a 
rocket,  amid  the  jeers  of  the  spectators,  the  cook  just 
behind,  puffing  and  swearing,  unable  to  secure  scarcely 
enough  for  the  captain's  meal.  He  "went  in  swim 
ming"  with  the  "other  soldiers."  During  one  of  these 
water  frolics,  Mr.  Hill  was  accosted  by  a  semi-Unionist 
farmer,  who  offered  to  give  the  Eagle  a  chicken,  if 
shown  to  his  children.  Arriving  at  the  house,  among 
them  appeared  a  fair  young  lady  who  vainly  coaxed  the 
bird  for  the  privilege  of  only  touching  his  kingly 
plumage,  remarking,  she  "never  expected  to  see  the 
celebrated  Eagle  which  the  Confederate  soldiers  say  is 
carried  by  a  Yankee  regiment."  Soon  "  Old  Abe  "  was 
set  at  liberty  among  the  fowls,  when,  after  the  style  of 
a  lion  —  a  peculiarity  of  habit  always  noticed  on  such 
occasions  —  he  threw  his  head  from  side  to  side,  walked 
around  his  selected  victim  with  a  stealthy  air,  and  made 
his  terrible  lunge;  missing  it,  he  measured  the  distance 
again  with  his  geometric  eye,  and  succeeded.  Drawing 
the  chicken  directly  under  him,  and  standing  defiantly 


UNDERGOING   DISCIPLINE.  37 

upon  it,  he  opened  his  wings  to  a  hovering  motion, 
bent  down  his  tail  spread  out  like  a  fan,  rustled  up  his 
feathers,  and  uttered  a  vengeful  satisfaction;  these  in 
cantations  over,  he  plunged  his  heak  into  the  heart,  and 
devoured  it  palpitating.  Looking  on  and  shuddering,  the 
children  exclaimed  "  Oh !  Mister !  —  Oh ! "  But  "  Tom  " 
gave  the  beautiful  brunette  a  significant  wink,  saying: 
"He  is  from  old  Wisconsin;  you  see  how  he  likes  the 
South!" 

Unless  extremely  hungry,  "Old  Abe"  never  eats 
anything  tainted  or  decayed.  He  enjoys  his  meals  best 
if  allowed  to  kill  his  own  game.  If  he  rejects  anything 
from  his  perch,  he  frequently  looks  down  at  it  with  a 
dignified  scorn.  He  drinks  like  a  hen;  but,  during  war 
time,  when  no  better  chance  availed  itself,  he  would 
throw  back  his  head,  open  his  mouth,  and  permit  his 
Bearer  to  pour  the  water  down  his  throat  from  a  canteen. 

To  the  soldiers  he  served  as  a  barometer.  If  the 
weight  of  the  atmosphere  indicated  a  storm,  he  was 
uneasy  to  find  a  shelter  ere  it  came  on,  and,  if  secured, 
was  very  lively.  No  one  but  his  Bearer  could  approach 
him  then  without  an  Eagle's  severe  reproof;  for  they 
were  his  sacred  hours  of  communion  with  the  Borean 
gods,  when  his  every  motion  said,  "  No  admission,  gen 
tlemen,  except  on  military  business."  If  the  lightning 
flashed,  his  eye  was  lighted  with  a  new  fury;  and,  as  the 
thunder  followed,  he  would  listen  with  rapt  suspense, 
and  then  scream  aloud  in  terrible  revelry  for  a  few 
minutes;  but  as  the  rain  beat  steady  and  heavy,  he 
would  grow  calm,  and,  hiding  his  head  under  his  wing, 
"sweetly  snoring,"  await  the  sunshine. 


38  OLD   ABE. 

"  Abe  "  would  sliake  hands  witli  his  Bearer,  grasp  the 
lingers  in  his  bill,  pressing  harder,  chuclding,  "  Does  it 
hurt?"  Very  sensitive  as  to  his  rights,  he  resented 
every  abuse,  and  never  forgot  it.  One  day  a  sergeant 
tormented  him  with  rough  handling,  and  affronted  him 
by  mimicking  his  manner  of  self-defense;  and,  like  an 
Indian,  he  laid  up  a  store  of  vengeance  for  him.  When 
the  sergeant  returned,  several  months  afterwards,  from 
a  journey,  "Abe "  fixed  his  eye  upon  him,  and,  the 
moment  he  came  into  his  presence,  flew  at  his  head 
with  fury,  and  actually  drove  him  off.  It  takes  an 
Eagle  to  teach  some  men  the  laws  of  etiquette. 

CHASING  THE   NEGRO. 

One  day,  just  after  a  bath  in  the  creek,  a  negro  ad 
dressed  the  Eagle  in  a  rough  style,  tormenting  him;  in 
an  instant  he  was  after  the  "  young  sauce  box,'1  his  eyes 
darting  fire,  his  claws  protruding,  his  beak  wide  open, 
his  feathers  ruffled  to  wrath.  By  striking  his  wings 
upon  the  ground,  and  springing  on  his  elastic  feet,  he 
leaped  after  his  assailant  with  engine  speed,  accompa 
nied  with  a  revengeful  screech.  Hotter  and  hotter  grew 
the  race,  the  negro  gaining  advantage  only  by  turning 
short  corners.  u  Hurrah  !  Nig  !"  shouted  the  laughing 
soldiers,  enjoying  the  fun.  Looking  back  with  a  side 
glance,  he  caught  a  glimpse  of  that  awful  mouth  ex 
tended  close  to  his  head,  when,  dodging  downwards,  the 
infuriated  bird  just  grazed  his  wool.  The  negro  was 
more  respectful  after  that  race  ;  a  lesson  we  all  should 
learn,  never  to  insult  the  American  Eagle  ! 

At  Camp  Clear  Creek  a  change  of  bearers  was  ordered. 


39 

Mr.  Hill  being  appointed  to  a  regimental  position,  it 
was  tendered  David  McLane,  of  Menomonie,  Wis.,  on 
the  18th  of  August,  1862. 

IUKA. 

Towards  the  close  of  summer,  an  army  three  miles 
long,  "  Old  Abe  "  this  time  in  the  rear,  marched  into 
northern  Alabama  and  rendezvoused  in  beautiful  Tus- 
cumbia,  famous  for  its  mineral  springs,  "  where  charm 
ing  ladies  in  their  teens,  well  trained  by  their  loyal 
mothers,  pointed  their  tiny  fingers  at  our  Eagle,  making 
mouths  prettily,  and  wanted  to  know  if  we  called  it 
Yank !  Yank  !" 

It  is  the  18th  of  September,  1862.  It  is  daylight  ; 
the  army  is  stirring.  The  forces  are  concentrating  on 
luka.  Stanley  is  there  ;  Oglesby,  Ord,  the  Wisconsin 
Hamilton,  Hackleman,  Kirby  Smith,  "the  "Eagles," 
"Old  Abe,"  Rosecrans  commanding,  —  these  are  there. 
There  is  a  moment  of  perturbation.  Who  shall  report 
-a  soldier's  look-out  of  soul  to  the  gathering  storm,  as  he 
thinks  of  home  ?  Who  can  register  for  the  pondering 
ages  coming,  how  civilizations  hung  upon  the  issues  of 
a  great  battle  ?  Who  can  tell  the  chancery  angel  of 
the  reckoning  day  in  the  eternal  world,  what  feelings 
throbbed  in  the  bosoms  of  Northern  and  Southern  moth 
ers,  as  their  sons,  the  noblest  of  the  country,  there  met 
in  deadly  grapple  ?  Oh,  those  three  hours  of  unceasing 
conflict,  sword  to  sword,  bayonet  to  bayonet,  trampling 
brothers  under  feet !  A  nation  hears  that  awful  clash 
of  arms  ;  it  is  victory  at  last,  and  the  war  Eagle  sends 
its  news  that  night  in  a  wild  scream  over  the  martyrs. 


40  OLD   ABE. 

Though  the  dead  lay  in  heaps,  no  harm  befell  him  ; 
he  was  carried  safely  through  by  McLane. 

On  the  same  day  of  the  luka  victory,  at  Jackson,  Tenn.T 
expired  James  McGennis,  the  1st  Eagle  Bearer.  He 
carried  the  Eagle  through  the  battles  of  Fredericktownr 
New  Madrid  and  Farmington. 

ATTEMPT  OF  GE^.  PRICE  TO  CAPTUEE  "  OLD  ABE." 

ON  discovering  that  the  enemy  was  concentrating  for 
a  grand  attack  on  Corinth,  then  held  by  our  forcesr 
Rosecrans  rallied  his  hosts  on  the  3d  of  October,  1862r 
to  meet  the  issue  against  42,000  Southern  troops  com 
bined  under  Price,  Van  Dorn  and  Lovell.  In  the  at 
tempt  to  gain  the  brow  of  a  hill  overlooking  the  town, 
the  rebels  charged  upon  our  lines  with  a  yell  and  dashr 
but  were  promptly  met  by  a  wall  of  adamant  that 
turned  the  tide.  Again  they  formed  and  hurled  them 
selves  forward  like  an  angry  wave  of  the  sea  to  capture 
our  batteries,  but  were  repulsed.  At  this  time  the 
"  Eagles  "  stood  near  the  base  of  the  hill,  clear  in  front 
of  the  line,  "  Old  Abe  "  in  the  regimental  advance.  Be 
fore  the  battle  commenced,  Gen.  Price  having  heard  of  the- 
Eagle  and  his  fame,  and,  knowing  his  capture  would  elec 
trify  the  South,  ordered  his  men  to  take  him  at  any  hazard, 

A  staff  officer  of  the  regiment,  who  was  not  only  an 
eye  witness  but  an  actor  in  this  battle,  says:  "  At  the 
battle  of  Corinth,  the  rebel  Gen.  Price,  having  discov 
ered  him,  ordered  his  men  to  be  sure  and  take  him;  if  this 
they  could  not  do,  to  kill  him,  adding  he  had  rather  get 
that  bird  than  the  whole  brigade."  David  McLane,  in 
his  letter  of  the  18th  February,  1865,  also  says: 


ATTEMPT  TO  CAPTURE  OLD  ABE.          41 

"The  rebel  Gen.  Price  saw  him  there  and  ordered  his  men 
either  to  capture,  or  kill  him,  at  all  hazards,  stating  that  he  had 
heard  of  that  bird  before,  and  would  rather  capture  him  than  the 
whole  brigade.  I  had  this  statement  from  rebel  prisoners  and 
believe  it  to  be  true." 

Col.  J.  W.  Jefferson,  furnishing  valuable  facts  for  this 
work,  verifies  what  others  have  testified: 

•'  One  of  Gen.  Price's  men,  who  was  captured  by  us,  told  me, 
Price  said  to  his  men  that  he  would  rather  have  them  capture 
the  Eagle  of  the  8th  Wisconsin  than  a  '  dozen  battle-flags,1  and 
that  if  they  succeeded,  he  would  give  the  lucky  (or  unlucky) 
Confederate  'Free  Pillage  in  Corinth!'  The  valiant  rebels 
did  not  succeed,  however,  but,  instead,  many  of  them  were  cap 
tured." 

A  rebel  soldier,  brother  of  a  guerilla  chief,  visiting 
Madison,  in  1875,  informed  Geo.  W.  Baker,  one  of  the 
Eagle's  attendants,  that,  while  in  the  Southern  service, 
during  one  of  the  battles,  he  heard  a  rebel  general  say, 
"  I  rather  capture  '  Old  Abe '  than  a  whole  brigade." 

During  a  lull  in  the  battle,  as  the  enemy  was  prepar 
ing  again  to  fire  from  the  brow  of  the  hill,  distant  not 
over  thirty  rods  from  the  Eighth  regiment,  the  Eagle 
being  exposed  in  plain  sight  of  the  rebels,  a  Confeder 
ate  officer  was  heard  by  several  in  company  C  to 
say  "There  he  is  —  the  Eagle  —  capture  him,  boys!" 
No  sooner  was  this  command  given,  than  the  rebel  artil 
lery  opened  upon  our  forces,  under  whose  cover  a  column 
just  discerned  in  the  gathering  smoke,  moved  briskly 
over  the  crest  to  break  and  scatter  our  steady  front,  and 
capture  the  prize.  All  this  while,  the  Eagle  scanned  with 
fire-lit  eye  every  movement  on  that  hill,  and  as  the  rebel 
infantry  hove  clear  out  in  sight,  he,  it  is  said,  whistled  a 


42  OLD    ABE. 

startling  note  of  alarm,  and  instantly  botli  armies  struck 
each  other  in  deafening  shock,  commingling  with  the 
boom  and  crash  of  cannon  that  trembled  forest  and 
valley.  Shouts  from  both  sides  rent  the  air,  while  death 
mowed  his  swath  clear  through  both  armies,  and  yet  the 
blood}r  gaps  closed  up  again  and  again.  Such  is  war! 
In  the  general  conflict,  the  Eagle  leaped  up  with  a  des 
perate  spring,  breaking  his  cord  or  else  it  was  cut  by  a 
Minie  ball,  and  was  seen  by  the  combatants,  circling, 
careering  in  the  sulphurous  smoke.  The  enemy  pressed 
nearer,  exultant,  as  if  sure  of  their  prize;  the  bullets 
flew  as  hailstones;  there  was  a  wavering  of  awing  — 
was  he  hit  ?  —  but  the  war-bird  rallied  again,  and,  as  he 
rose  higher,  many  a  rebel  shot  went  up  to  bring  down 
the  American  Eagle!  —  but  011  he  sped,  towering  above 
that  awful  din,  screaming  back  to  his  assailants,  eyeing 
the  battle  from  his  sky-eyrie,  when,  catching  a  glimmer 
of  his  comrades  in  the  fight  and  the  colors  where  his 
Bearer  stood  gazing  upward  with  suspense  —  as  if  in 
spired  by  the  very  Roman  gods  —  he  descended,  like  a 
"  bolt  of  Jove,"  to  the  left  of  his  regiment,  where  Mc- 
Lane,  flying  after  him,  easily  caught  him  up  in  his  arms, 
trembling  and  panting  with  ardor,  and  whistling 
with  his  peculiar  air  of  satisfaction.  By  permission, 
his  Bearer  immediately  carried  him  cautiously  from  the 
field  to  the  camp,  where  he  remained  till  the  close  of 
the  next  day  of  battle,  which  ended  in  a  Federal  victory 
"purchased  at  a  dear  cost.  On  examination,  it  was  found 
that  the  Eagle  was  hit  by  a  rebel  bullet  in  the  feathers 
of  a  wing  near  the  flesh. 

"  If  a  Roman  army  were  defeated,  the  eagle  was  not  suffered 


CHOPPING  THE  EAGLE.  43 

to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy;  when  the  standard-bearer 
saw  the  rout  begin,  he  broke  his  lance  in  twain,  and  buried  in 
the  earth  that  portion  which  was  crowned  by  the  imperial  sym 
bol.  Tliis  took  place  after  the  fatal  battle  of  Lake  Thrasymcuu ; 
and  we  owe  to  such  a  precaution  the  only  legionary  eagle  that 
lias  been  preserved  to  our  times.  It  was  found  in  Germany  on 
the  land  of  the  Count  d'Erlach;  is  of  bronze  gilt,  three  inches 
high,  and  weighs  eight  pounds.  It  is  supposed  to  have  belonged 
to  the  22d  legion,  which  being  sorely  pressed  in  a  battle  with 
the  Alemanni,  the  eagle-bearer,  before  he  took  to  flight,  con 
cealed  in  the  earth  the  precious  symbol  intrusted  to  his  care." 

Theirs  was  the  reverential  respect  of  the  Roman  sol 
diery.  Many  a  correspondent  of  the  army,  writing  home 
about  this  attempt  of  Gen.  Price  to  capture  "  Old  Abe," 
threw  out  the  challenge  — "  Let  him  come  and  take 
him!  "  They  would  have  shot  and  buried  the  Eagle  in 
the  midst  of  a  battle,  rather  than  permit  him  to  fall 
into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

CROPPING  THE  EAGLE. 

Soon  after  the  battle  of  Corinth,  some  one  in  the 
regiment  had  the  dastardly  audacity  to  crop  the  tail 
and  a  wing  of  the  Eagle,  to  prevent  his  flying  away 
during  an  engagement.  It  was  argued  by  the  shabby 
party  concerned,  that  he  "  might  get  lost."  After  all, 
lie  could  soar  into  a  tree,  but  he  no  longer  looked  like 
himself;  and  much  did  his  appearance  mortify  the  sol 
diers  generally  and  regimental  officers.  Disgusted  with 
the  treatment  of  his  bird,  McLane  resigned  his  Eagle 
commission,  on  the  1st  of  Nov.,  1862,  when  Edward 
Homaston,  of  Eau  Claire,  was  tendered  the  honor. 
Having  been  reared  among  the  Green  Mountains  of 
Vermont,  where  in  boyhood  he  watched  the  eagles' 


44:  OLD    ABE. 

flights  every  day,  he  took  to  "  Old  Abe  "  with  a  natural 
instinct.  Their  friendship  for  one  another  was  very 
strong  ;  indeed,  "  Ed  "  and  "Abe  "  were  brothers,  thor 
oughly  understanding  each  other. 

THE  EAGLE'S  VERNACULAR. 

Mr.  Homaston  translated  the  Eagle's  idiom  into  Eng 
lish.  He  found  "  Old  Abe  "  varies  his  voice  according 
to  emotions.  When  surprised,  he  whistles  a  wild  mel 
ody,  toned  to  a  melancholy  softness;  when  hovering 
over  his  food,  he  gives  a  spiteful  chuckle;  when  pleased 
to  see  an  old  friend,  he  says  a  "how  do  you  do?"  with 
a  plaintive  cooing.  His  scream  in  battle  was  wild,  com 
manding,  uttering  five  or  six  notes  in  succession  with 
a  most  startling  trill  that  was  perfectly  inspiring  to 
the  soldiers.  Strangers  could  never  approach  and  touch 
him  with  safety,  but  those  of  his  regiment  that  treated 
him  with  courtesy,  he  was  ever  glad  to  see.  David  Mc- 
Lane  says : 

"He  has  his  particular  friends  and  his  enemies.  There  were 
men  in  our  company  whom  he  would  not  let  come  near  him;  on 
them  he  would  fly,  and  tear  them  with  his  talons  and  beak  in  a 
way  not  very  pleasant;  but  he  would  never  fight  his  Bearer.  He 
knew  his  own  regiment  from  any  other,  and  would  always  cheer 
with  it,  but  never  for  any  other  regiment  during  the  war." 

MORALE  OF  APPETITE. 

Late  in  the  fall  of  1862,  Gen.  Grant,  then  command 
ing  the  Mississippi  Division,  formed  an  expedition  to 
gain  the  rear  of  Vicksburg  and  use  up  Price  in  his  re 
treat.  Our  war  Eagle  was  in  that  imposing  army,  the 
recognized  signal  of  success.  Passing  through  Grand 


ANOTHER  COQUETTISH   FLIGHT.  45 

Junction,  Tenn.,  thence  over  a  country  infested  with 
guerilla  hordes,  they  arrived  at  Cold  Water  early  in  the 
winter,  and,  chilled,  fatigued  and  hungry,  prepared  for 
encampment.  After  they  had  fairly  stacked  arms,  and 
were  leisurely  resting  in  various  attitudes,  "  Old  Abe," 
whose  wings  were  yet  "a  little  awry,"  as  if  under 
standing  the  laws  of  regimental  hygiene  by  dispelling 
a  camp  gloom,  broke  his  cord  and  awkwardly  flew  for 
the  woods,  drawing  after  him  a  goodly  number  of  his 
regiment,  running  in  different  directions.  A  soldier 
climbed  the  tree  in  which  he  had  alighted,  and,  catch 
ing  him,  threw  him  roughly  to  the  ground,  when  up 
he  flew,  enraged,  into  another.  This  time  they  tried  to 
bring  him  down  by  throwing  clubs  and  stones  at  him. 
As  was  his  custom  at  play,  these  he  caught  with  his 
claws;  one  of  them  caused  his  mouth  to  bleed  pro 
fusely,  and  he  was  stubborn.  Finding  that  method  use 
less,  they  procured  a  live  chicken,  tied  it  with  a  long 
string  to  the  tree,  and  thus  tempted  him  to  docility. 
After  that  stampede,  they  never  forgot  the  moral  of  the 
incident  —  that  the  persuasion  of  the  appetite  is  better 
than  brute  force. 

ANOTHER  COQUETTISH  FLIGHT. 

On  the  5th  of  December,  the  "  Eagles  "  encamped  at 
Waterford,  on  the  Tallahatchie  River.  The  Eagle's 
camp  was  a  beautiful  bower  under  the  hollies,  and  there 
"Abe"  and  "Ed"  slept  together.  The  author  of 
1  Opening  of  the  Mississippi"  says: 

"The  12th  Wisconsin,  Col.  Bryant,  is  encamped  about  half  a 
mile  from  us  (at  Waterford).    As  his  regiment  was  passing  our 


46  OLD   ABE. 

last  camp  a  few  days  ago,  the  Eighth  brought  out  the  Eagle, 
and  formed  in  line  by  the  roadside.  As  they  caught  a  glimpse 
of  our  old  bird,  they  commenced  cheering;  and  many  here 
found  friends  and  relations  whom  they  had  not  seen  for  over  a 
year." 

As  the  Colonel  made  a  brief  speech,  recounting  the 
hardships  they  had  mutually  endured,  and  the  justice  of 
their  cause,  the  Eighth  cheering,  "  Old  Abe,1'  jumping 
up  and  down  on  his  perch,  sprung  with  such  force,  the 
cord  broke,  and  away  he  sped,  soaring  into  the  ether  in 
gay  life.  When  he  had  satisfied  his  ambition,  he  gently 
descended  to  a  distant  tree  top,  where  the  daring  Philip 
Burk  captured  and  returned  him  thence  to  the  regiment. 


When  fairly  ready  to  enjoy  the  new  homes  at  Water- 
ford,  marching  orders  came  to  "move  on  to  Oxford." 
Disappointed,  but  faithful  to  duty,  they  promptly 
obeyed,  and  in  one  week  reached  the  place,  through 
which  they  marched  in  platoons.  When  fairly  in  the 
principal  street,  "a  lady  of  the  Emerald  Isle1'  coolly 
asked,  "Why  don't  you  shoot  that  buzzard?"  Going  a 
few  rods  further,  a  young  Miss,  standing  on  the  side 
walk  with  the  crowd,  gaily  attired,  inquired,  "  What  is 
that  bird  you  carry?"  On  being  informed,  "It  is  an 
American  Eagle,"  she  replied,  "  You  can't  fool  me;  that 
is  a  turkey  buzzard !"  Turning  a  corner,  and  keeping 
a  steady  lookout,  another  lady,  "  of  decidedly  Southern 
origin,  rushed  from  a  stately  mansion  by  the  wayside, 
with  arms  extended  and  hair  streaming  wildly  in  the 
wind,  and,  with  scornful  sarcasm,  exclaimed,  i  Oh,  see 
that  Yankee  Buzzard  !' ''  By  this  time  the  soldiers  con- 


SEE  DAT  YANKEE  BIKD.  47 

eluded  a  return  fire  would  not  be  inapplicable,  and  a 
hundred  voices  shouted  back,  " '  Where  is  your  Southern 
Pelican?'  in  so  unmistakable  emphasis,  that  she  re 
treated  for  the  house  on  double  quick."  As  the  regi 
ment  remained  there  about  a  week,  keeping  provost 
guard,  all  such  inquisitors  soon  learned  the  species  of 
the  bird  when  first  "  they  met  his  terrible  eyes  of  jus 
tice  to  rebellion."  Some  boys  there,  it  is  said,  provoked 
the  Eagle  and  annoyed  the  soldiers.  One  day,  a  little 
boy,  with  bare  feet,  approached  the  bird,  then  on  the 
ground.  The  boy's  feet,  by  much  exposure,  were  about 
the  color  of  a  toad's  back,  and  about  the  size,  in  general 
appearance,  of  average  specimens  of  those  amphibia. 
The  Eagle  began  to  turn  his  head  right  and  left,  peering 
at  them. 

"  Take  care  of  your  feet,  boy,"  said  one  of  the  men. 
"  The  Eagle  will  pounce  on  them,  if  you  don't  stand 
back." 

"  Oh,  I  guess  not,"  said  another.  "  He  isn't  hungry 
now.  We  fed  him  a  small  boy  a  little  while  ago." 

The  boy  took  a  retrograde  movement  without  further 
delay  ;  and.  after  that,  he  and  his  grade  of  mates  kept 
at  a  respectful  distance  from  the  Eagle. 

"SEE  DAT  YANKEE  BIRD!" 

Flying,  on  the  20th,  to  Tallahatchie,  on  the  cars, 
there  skirmishing  with  the  enemy,  reinforced  with 
5,000  troops,  marching  thence  eighteen  miles,  resting 
that  night  on  the  cold  sods,  with  "  bayonets  for  their 
wives,"  they  rose  with  the  dawn  of  the  21st,  and  stood 
on  a  hill  overlooking  Holly  Springs,  all  spread  out  to- 


48  OLD   ABE. 

view  in  grand  perspective,  when,  simultaneously,  the 
whole  army  sent  up  a  jubilant  shout  that  startled  the 
people  in  every  street.  "  Old  Abe,"  beholding  the  scene, 
exulting  in  the  enthusiasm,  joined  his  shrill  voice  as  the 
addenda  always  of  military  rejoicing.  Price  had  occupied 
that  city  the  day  before,  having  sacked  the  town  and  made 
good  his  escape;  and  now  came  the  Northerners,  with 
banners  unfurled  to  the  breeze,  headed  by  martial  music, 
and  the  Eagle  at  his  post  in  heraldic  dignity,  marching 
into  that  proud,  beautiful  city.  "  Abe  "  was  the  observed 
of  all  observers,  "  and  not  a  few  negroes,"  says  Mr. 
Driggs,  "  overwhelmed  with  joy  at  the  sight  of  '  Link- 
um's  army  come  to  sabe  us,'  swung  their  hats,  and, 
nudging  one  another,  exclaimed, '  See  dat  Yankee  Bird ! ' 
whilst  the  '  secesh  ladies '  peeped  through  the  window 
shutters,  and,  with  scornful  lips,  hissed  at  the  saviors 
of  American  liberty  ! " 

Being  now  on  the  track  of  Price  —  doubtless  his  com 
rades  will  ever  remember  the  "Eagle  Regiment"  — 
brigaded  with  the  17th  and  32d  Wisconsin  and  93d  In 
diana,  they  chased  him  in  zigzag  directions,  day  and 
night,  weary,  and  everywhere  imperiled,  but  never  dis- 
pairing.  "  Old  Abe,"  in  this  swift  pursuit,  was  on  his 
war  perch,  with  head  to  windward,  and  wings  flapping 
backward  to  speed  the  journey.  He  was  more  quiet  at 
night  when  on  the  march,  constantly  on  the  watch, 
alive  to  every  sound,  invariably  informing  his  Bearer  of 
any  danger  from  a  limb  of  a  tree,  or  of  the  enemy,  by 
an  alarm  note  of  surprise.  Even  when  the  army  rested 
at  night,  if  any  one  approached,  however  cautiously,  he 
would  suddenly  withdraw  his  head  from  under  his  wing 


ABE   AND   THE   GUINEA   HEN.  49 

and  make  a  complaining  screech,  indicating  he  did  not 
care  to  be  disturbed.  Like  a  revolutionary  "  minute 
man,"  he  seemed  to  calculate  for  the  morrow's  march, 
by  resting  when  all  was  safe,  conscious  of  protection 
from  faithful  pickets.  His  quick  ear  detected  the  tread 
of  the  enemy  ;  a  sharp  note  and  tremor  of  nerve  un 
mistakably  warned  the  army  to  be  vigilant. 

Poor  and  forlorn  were  those  faithful  soldiers  when 
they  arrived  at  Grand  Junction,  on  the  23d,  having  had 
no  sleep  for  three  nights,  and  being  without  tents, 
blankets  or  covering  of  any  kind.  The  Eagle  felt  all 
the  emotions  of  his  comrades,  and  actually  whined  to 
his  Bearer,  with  a  most  searching  plea  for  food.  Every 
body  refusing  his  importunities  for  "  pity  on  the  Eagle," 
Homaston  sought  the  first  hen  roost  convenient  for  fo 
rage,  satisfied  that  the  "military  necessity"  of  "Abe's" 
voracious  stomach  demanded  even  the  last  chicken  of 
the  Confederacy  to  "  save  the  Union  ! " 


Again  changing  front  to  rear,  "  Abe "  was  next  do 
mesticated,  on  the  24th  of  December,  at  La  Grange, 
Tenn.  Here  no  meat  could  be  procured  for  our  Eagle. 
Capt.  Wolf  made  several  unsuccessful  attempts  to  buy  a 
chicken  of  a  semi-Unionist.  Getting  spunky  over  it,  he 
took  the  Bearer  arid  his  hungiy  bird  with  him  one  day 
to  that  gentleman's  house,  and,  by  a  porter,  made  the 
same  demand  as  before  ;  and  the  same  provoking  denial 
was  returned.  Learning  that  the  Captain  had  the  Eagle 
there  under  threat  to  let  him  (the  bird)  select  his  own 
chicken,  "  the  half-and-half  loyalist "  came  out,  and  to 
4 


50  OLD  ABE. 

compromise  the  matter,  offered  a  Guinea  hen,  provided 
the  Eagle  could  kill  her  in  a  fair  fight.  About  this  time 
quite  a  crowd  had  gathered,  among  which  were  several 
regimental  officers,  to  witness  "the  battle  of  birds." 
Eying  his  prey  with  a  measuring  glance,  "Abe"  sprung 
forward,,  when  the  hen  uttered  her  peculiar  squall  — 
a  sound  altogether  new  to  his  quick  ear  —  which  so 
startled  him  that  he  paused  for  further  examination. 
Improving  this  "  cessation  of  hostilities,"  she  scud  off 
to  the  opposite  corner,  u  facing  the  music."  Enraged  at 
such  procedure,  the  Eagle  made  another  dash,  which 
was  followed  by  the  same  unearthly  squall,  and  this  by 
another  pause.  There  was  no  possibility  of  outflanking 
the  hen,  neither  did  she  dare  to  meet  him  in  "  mortal 
combat,"  so  round  and  round  they  flew,  amid  roars  of 
laughter,  neither  of  the  "  flying  squadrons  "  the  victor, 
till  at  length  Madame  Guinea  escaped  into  a  chink  un 
der  a  building,  where  Monsieur  Eagle  could  not  pene 
trate.  The  general  fun  evoked  a  fellow  feeling  ;  and 
"  Old  Abe  "  was  next  permitted  to  seize  a  fat  shanghai 
with  one  unerring  spring,  when  the  grave  looking 
"Abraham"  enjoyed  a  feast. 


At  La  Grange,  "  Abe's  v  rendezvous  was  a  fort  com 
posed  of  cotton  bales,  which  furnished  him  new  amuse 
ment.  "  Cotton  is  King  !"  said  the  Southrons,  for  near 
ly  a  century,  and  Church  and  State  bowed  to  this  Moloch 
of  Slavery,  whose  foot  was  upon  our  sable  brother,  press 
ing  out  the  bloody  sweat  to  refresh  the  famished  Eden 
of  the  West ;  but  our  "  Bird  of  Liberty,"  inspired  with 


BRAVO,   OLD  ABE.  51 

the  free  idea  of  the  age,  evidently  disdained  the  "  King,% 
and  proved  that  despot  was  only  "  stuffed  cotton,"  after 
all,  as  he  tore  it  out  with  a  frolicking  chuckle,  and  trod 
it  under  his  feet  for  a  soft  bed  to  lie  on  in  the  sun.  On 
Christmas  day  of  1862,  the  soldiers  hoisted  an  immense 
flag  on  these  works,  and  then  gave  three  rousing  cheers 
for  the  Union.  "  Old  Abe  "  was  standing  at  the  time 
right  under  it,  close  to  the  staff.  When  the  last  cheer 
died  away,  he  gave  his  startling  war-scream  with  trilling 
vibrations,  when  another  shout  went  up  in  a  general 
"  Hurrah  for  the  Soldier  Bird  of  Wisconsin  !" 

"BRAVO,  OLD  ABE." 

Vibrating  back  to  the  old  battle  grounds  of  Corinth, 
and  thence  to  Germantown,  Tenn.,  the  "  Eagles  "  there 
made  a  church  their  headquarters,  during  the  remainder 
of  the  winter.  Whether  it  was  because  of  fashion,  or  a 
sense  of  religious  duty,  the  boys  do  not  report,  but  "  it 
was  most  comical  to  see  him  going  to  church  to  prey  so 
earnestly  !" 

On  the  llth  of  March,  1863,  they  were  ordered  to 
Memphis  —  most  welcome  news,  for  they  anticipated  a 
rest  amid  the  gayeties  and  luxuries  of  city  life.  "  Old 
Abe  "  remained  on  his  perch  all  that  day,  watching  the 
preparation  ;  becoming  impatient  the  next  morning,  and 
evidently  thinking  so  long  delay  in  filling  an  order  un 
like  "  the  swift  Eagles,"  the  moment  he  heard  the  blast 
of  the  bugle,  so  electrifying  was  it  to  his  patriotic  nerve, 
he  snatched  up  the  cord,  then  stiffened  by  a  recent  cold 
rain,  and  bit  it  in  two  clear  and  smooth,  as  if  cut  by  a 
knife,  and,  to  signify  "  Come  on,  boys,  it  is  high  time  to 


52  OLD   ABE. 

march,"  soared  over  the  regiment  with  a  whir  of  exul 
tation,  high,  higher,  on  easy  wing,  sailing  round  and 
round  in  the  dark  sky,  and  when  up  to  a  shooting  point, 
scooped  far  off  in  a  grand  circle,  and  back  over  the  army 
again,  the  whole  brigade  gazing,  and  thousands  of  voices 
shouting,  "  Bravo,  Old  Abe  !"  They  could  not  march 
without  their  pet  bird,  and  as  the  whole  army  paused 
in  the  general  excitement,  Homaston,  flying  with  the 
rest,  requested  the  frantic  fellows  to  keep  cool  while  he 
and  a  German  lad  would  surely  capture  him  at  his  old 
watering  place,  where  he  had  then  alighted.  Approach 
ing  cautiously,  he  put  the  perch  at  the  right  angle,  and 
coaxing  him  to  mount,  at  length  secured  him  fast. 
When  returned  to  the  regiment,  amid  acclamations,  the 
bugle  sounded  again,  and  "  Abe,"  with  the  rogue  in  his 
eyes,  and  patriotism  in  his  air  of  dignity,  said,  "  Steady, 


sir,  go  on  !" 


COHFEDEKATE  RESPECT. 


When  at  Memphis,  certain  Confederate  citizens  gave 
Mr.  Homaston  money  to  purchase  meat  for  his  Eagle. 
They  respected  the  living  emblem  of  that  Union  for 
which  they  had  a  heart,  though  conventionally  arrayed 
against  it.  The  following  clipping  from  the  diary  of 
Joseph  Lawton,  Sergeant  of  Company  K.,  who  kept  a 
record  of  all  the  army  movements,  shows  how  earnest 
was  the  respect  at  Memphis  : 

"  ON  STEAMER  *  EMPRESS,'  MEMPHIS,  TENN.,  March  14,  1863. 
"  Yesterday  afternoon,  as  we  marched  through  the  city  of  Mem 
phis  to  embark  on  this  steamer,  the  regiment  and  the  live  Eagle 
attracted  great  attention,  as  usual,  and   many  red,  white  and 
blue  flags,  and  white  handkerchiefs  saluted  us  on  our  march." 


CONFEDERATE   RESPECT.  53 

Their  "  long  rest "  at  Memphis  was  only  for  a  few 
days.  The  order  was  imperative  —  to  Helena,  the  "  Sol 
diers'  Sepulchre.1'  "  Old  Abe  "  did  not  like  the  journey  ; 
steamboats  and  "  mule  wagons  "  were  his  disgust.  When 
arrived  at  Yazoo  Pass,  while  the  boys  were  freighting 
the  "  Ben  Franklin "  with  war  equipments,  the  rain 
poured  in  torrents,  and  the  wind  "  blew  like  a  southern 
hurricane,"  before  which  the  trees  fell  crashing  all 
around  the  men.  In  the  desperate  struggles  to  save  his 
life,  "  Old  Abe  "  got  the  cord  so  awkwardly  around  him, 
that  he  was  actually  hung  in  a  tree  ;  and  one  of  his  legs 
was  much  bruised,  laming  him  for  several  weeks. 

Landing  at  Ducksport,  near  Young's  Point,  on  the 
1st  of  April,  1863,  they  went  into  camp  on  the  Louisi 
ana  side,  only  nine  miles  above  Vicksburg  and  two 
miles  above  the  famous  fleet  anchored  there  to  subdue 
the  city,  employing  their  time  digging  canals,  building 
roads,  and  preparing  steamers  to  run  the  blockade. 
Here  they  were  addressed  one  day  by  Gen.  Thomas, 
Adj.  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  and,  during  his  patriotic  remarks,  he 
feelingly  alluded  to  the  immortal  Emancipation  Procla 
mation  of  President  Lincoln,  ordering  the  freedom  and 
enlistment  of  negroes,  and  urged  that  such  deserving 
privates  as  their  officers  might  recommend,  should  pre 
sent  themselves  as  candidates  for  commanders  in  colored 
regiments  and  companies.  As  his  eye  glanced  over  the 
stalwart  ranks,  he  caught  a  view  of  "  Old  Abe,"  whom 
he  had  not  seen  since  the  greeting  in  St.  Louis,  about 
two  years  before;  and,  with  a  new  luster  firing  his  vis 
ion  so  tense  and  determined,  he  added,  "  I  supposed  that 
all  present  were  strangers  to  me,  but  I  see  one  familiar 


54:  OLD   ABE. 

personage  at  least  —  that  majestic  Eagle  of  the  8th  Wis 
consin,  the  emblem  now  of  universal  freedom  in  the 
Republic." 

In  Gen.  Tuttle's  Division,  marching,  countermarch 
ing,  through  Richmond,  La.,  camping  on  Smith's  Plan 
tation,  on  Perkins'  Plantation,  on  the  shore  of  Lake  St. 
Joseph  —  everywhere  encouraged  by  the  negroes  who 
thanked  "  de  Lor1  that  massa  Linkum's  army  hab  delib- 
ered  us  from  slabery" —  they  reached  Hard  Times 
Landing,  on  the  7th  of  May,  when,  just  as  each  com 
pany  had  stacked  arms  in  the  middle  of  the  road,  Gen 
erals  Mower,  Smith,  Sherman  and  Grant  came  dashing 
by,  inspecting  the  army,  and,  as  they  passed  the  old 
Eighth,  they  doffed  their  hats  to  the  Eagle,  at  which 
the  regiment  cheered,  and  the  bird  responded  with  pat 
riotic  civility  by  his  wings  and  inimitable  voice. 

Crossing  the  Mississippi  on  a  gunboat,  marching 
thence  to  Grand  Gulf,  to  Fort  Gibson,  to  Rocky 
Springs,  the  "  Eagles "  skirmished,  on  the  12th,  with 
the  enemy  at  Fourteen  Mile  Creek.  Here  Gen.  Sher 
man,  frequently  riding  with  his  staff  during  the  day  in 
their  rear,  and  noticing  the  dash  and  skill  of  those 
brave  men  driving  the  rebels  with  easy  adroitness,  after 
wards  paid  them  a  high  compliment,  remarking,  "  You 
are  worthy  to  carry  the  American  Eagle,  and  proud 
must  that  bird  be  that  is  so  honored."  The  next  day, 
entering  Raymond,  our  Eagle  witnessed  another  skir 
mish,  driving  the  enemy  to  Mississippi  Springs;  "  and  it 
was  fun,"  says  a  soldier,  u  to  see  how  drolly  he  watched 
the  'butternuts'  as  they  skedaddled  into  the  tangled 
brush." 


CHARGE  OK  JACKSON.  55 


CHARGE  OK  JACKSOK. 


On  the  14th  of  May,  1863,  Gen.  Grant,  with  his  gal 
lant  army,  stood  before  Jackson,  Mississippi,  McPherson 
at  the  head  of  the  right  wing,  and  Sherman  the  left  in. 
which,  the  Eagle  was  placed.     A  violent  storm  poured 
out  its  vials  of  wrath  upon  friend  and  foe.     Gazing  at 
the  heavens,  the  eyes  of  the  Eagle  seemed  as  lightning; 
and  as  the  clouds  pealed  forth  their  fiery  thunders,  com 
mingling  with  the  roar  of  cannon,  shell  and  musketry, 
he  was  indeed  the  embodiment  of  a  sublime  fury.     The 
boys  say,  "  the  lightnings  played  upon  his  pinions,"  and 
that  when  he  stretched  them  forth  and  dashed  the  elec 
tric  drops  of  rain  upon  the  soldiers,  they  were  inspired 
with  an  inexpressible  enthusiasm.    Swift  as  a  mountain 
avalanche,  swifter,  swiftest,  was  that  "  Forward !"—  the 
"Eagles"  led  by  the  intrepid  Col.  Robbins  —  until  it 
became  the  acceleration  of  Jupiter's  bolts,  hurling  with 
resistless  weight  against  the  enemy,  bravely  defending 
his  entrenchments.     A  creek  was  before  the  Federal 
forces;  unheeding,  they  plunged    into  it— the  Eagle 
carried  aloft  on  his  standard  — and    ploughed  across, 
backing  the  swelling  current  till  it  rose  to  the  waist, 
and,  springing  up  the  opposite  bank  by  the  aid  of  the 
advance  party,  the  last  up  pulling  out  his  next  neigh 
bor,  they  formed  again,  and,  in  a  wild  "  Eagle  yell," 
swept  over  a  level  tract  like  a  dark,  whirling  tornado, 
right  on  to  the  guns  of  the  enemy  in  the  woods.     Noth 
ing  on  earth  could  withstand  that  charge.     The  rebels 
fired,  fought  like  brave  men  well,  but,  quailing  at  last, 
fled  amazed.     The  "  Eagles  "  with  their  screaming  bird 
were  among  the  first  to  enter  the  city.    Amid  the  wild 


56  OLD  ABE. 

huzzas  of  the  victors,  they  flew  through  the  streets,  just 
as  Gen.  Joe  Johnston  with  8,000  men  retreated  out  in  a 
southernly  direction;  and,  reaching  the  Capitol,  in  a  mo 
ment  tore  down  the  rebel  flag  and  hoisted  the  "  stars 
and  stripes  "  on  the  same  staff,  when  cheer  upon  cheerr 
louder,  yet  louder,  "lifted  the  delivered  city,"  says 
one  of  the  more  enthusiastic,  u  a  hundred  feet  into  the 
victorious  air,  when  '  Old  Abe '  showed  those  old  sin 
ners  how  to  proclaim  liberty  throughout  all  the  land." 
The  battle  lulled  to  a  repose,  dread  and  pensive  over  the- 
" slain  of  the  daughter  of  my  people;"  and  there,  toor 
hovered  the  Northern  Eagle,  conscious  of  a  dearly  pur 
chased  victory,  perched  on  his  starry  shield  just  on  the 
steps  in  front  of  the  Capitol  where  was  quartered  the 
Union  army.  What  a  contrast  of  occupancy!  what  a 
retribution  in  example  qver  to  be  remembered  as  a  les 
son  to  nations,  that  oppression  reacts  to  destruction  I 
A  gentleman  from  the  North,  visiting  the  ciiy  of  Jack 
son,  in  1860,  just  before  the  war  broke  out,  and,  standing 
before  that  same  State  House,  saw  a  large  body  of  people 
assembled  in  the  Capitol  Park,  witnessing  and  partici 
pating  in  the  sale  of  slaves  at  auction,  belonging  to  a 
planter  that  had  recently  died:  "  As  I  stood  there,  an 
intelligent,  good  looking  negro,  about  twenty-two  years 
old,  occupied  a  stone  pedestal  at  the  side  of  the  front 
steps  of  the  Capitol,  the  auctioneer  selling  him  off  to 
the  highest  bidder."  One  year,  over  two  years  of 
bloodshed,  and  the  sons  of  brave  mothers  from  the 
North  possess  that  Capitol  by  force,  every  room  and 
chamber  honored  by  Yankee  Soldiers,  the  true  flag 
floating  from  the  dome,  the  Eagle  that  our  Revolution- 


APPEARANCE  OF  OLD  ABE  IX  BATTLE.       57 

ary  Fathers  chose  for  their  and  our  national  emblem, 
flapping  his  wings  and  screaming  his  terrible  war-cry  of 
victory  from  the  very  spot  where  three  years  before  stood 
that  auctioneer  selling  a  human  being  for  gold! 

APPEARANCE  OF  "  OLD  ABE"  IN  BATTLE. 

Jackson  evacuated  and  needlessly  left  almost  a  desola 
tion,  the  elated  army  following  up  its  conquest,  Napo 
leon-like,  carried  its  victor  Eagle  clear  through  the  ene 
my's  ranks  at  Black  River  Bridge  and  Champion  Hills,  on 
the  16th,  driving  those  outposts  closer  to  the  doomed 
city.  The  constant  excitement  of  march  and  battle,  of 
the  hurrying  and  affrighted  populace,  roused  all  the  na 
tive  fire  and  inspiration  of  our  military  bird.  His  ap 
pearance  was  perfectly  magnificent.  To  be  seen  in  all 
his  glory  was  when  the  battle  commenced.  At  the 
sound  of  the  regimental  bugle,  which,  he  had  learned  to 
recognize,  however  engaged  he  might  be,  he  would  start 
suddenly,  dart  up  his  head,  and  then  bend  it  gracefully, 
anticipating  the  coining  shock;  and,  when  conscious  of 
its  reality,  his  eyes  would  flash  with  uncommon  luster. 
Then,  with  a. silent,  excited,  animation,  he  would  survey 
the  moving  squadrons,  and,  as  they  rushed  into  line,  his 
breast  would  tremble  like  the  human  heart,  intensified 
to  warring  action  between  hope  and  fear  —  an  undaunt 
ed  suspense  —  a  blending  of  caution  and  courage  —  a 
precipitancy  of  will,  inspiring  and  sublime.  Click 
would  go  a  thousand  locks,  and  he  would  turn  again, 
curving  that  majestic  neck,  scrutinizing  the  ranks,  and 
dipping  his  brow  forward  to  await  the  crash  ;  and  when 
it  came,  rolling  fiery  thunder  over  the  plain,  he  would 


58  OLD  ABE. 

spring  up  and  spread  his  pinions,  uttering  his  startling 
scream,  heard,  felt  and  gloried  in  by  the  desperate  sol 
diers.  As  the  smoke  enveloped  him,  he  would  appear 
to  be  bewildered  for  a  moment,  but  when  it  opened 
again,  folding  up  from  the  soldiers  like  a  curtain,  he 
would  look  down  intently,  as  if  inquiring,  "  How  goes 
the  battle,  boys?  What  of  that  last  charge?  " 

"  As  the  engagement  waxed  hot,"  says  the  Washington  Chroni 
cle,  "  as  the  roar  of  the  heavy  guns  shook  the  earth,  and  the  rat 
tle  of  small  arms  pierced  the  dim  and  sulphurous  cloud  that 
hung  about  the  line  of  battle  —  the  Eagle  would  flap  his  wings 
and  mingle  his  voice  with  the  tumult  in  the  fiercest  and  wildest 
of  his  screams." 

"When  the  battle  is  commenced,"  says  a  newspaper  corre 
spondent,  "the  Eagle,  with  spread  pinions,  jumps  up  and  down 
on  his  perch,  uttering  such  wild,  fearful  screams  as  an  eagle 
alone  can  utter.  The  fiercer  and  louder  the  storm  of  battle,  the 
fiercer,  wilder  and  louder  the  screams.  What  a  grand  history 
he  will  have  —  what  a  grand  Eagle  he  will  be  a  hundred  years 
hence!  Pilgrims  will  come  from  all  parts  of  the  world  to  see 
the  Eagle  that  was  borne  through  this,  our  second  war  for  Inde 
pendence!" 
w  v 

"  When  the  battle  raged  most  fiercely,"  sa}rs  Harpers'  Weekly , 

"  and  the  enthusiasm  of  the  soldiers  was  at  its  highest,  then  it 
was  that '  Old  Abe'  seemed  to  be  in  his  own  element.  He  flapped 
his  wings  in  the  midst  of  the  furious  storm,  and,  with  head 
erect,  faced  the  flying  bullets  and  the  crashing  shells  with  no 
no  signs  of  fear.  'Old  Abe  '  triumphs  with  the  triumph  of  the 
flag,  and  seems  in  some  measure  conscious  of  his  relationship 
with  the  emblem  of  a  victorious  Republic." 

Col.  J.  W.  Jefferson,  who  led  the  gallant  Eighth  in 
many  of  its  battles,  thus  describes  the  war  Eagle  on 
parade  and  in  battle: 

" '  Old  Abe  *  was  with  the  command  in  nearly  every  action. 


BEPEKTING  AT   SIGHT   OF  THE  EAGLE.  59 

He  enjoyed  the  excitement ;  and  I  am  convinced,  from  his  pe 
culiar  manner,  he  was  well  informed  in  regard  to  army  move- 
merits,  dress  parade  and  preparations  for  the  march  and  battle. 
Upon  parade,  after  he  had  been  a  year  in  the  service,  he  always 
gave  heed  to  '  attention!'  With  his  head  obliquely  to  the  front, 
his  right  eye  directly  turned  upon  the  parade  commander,  he 
would  listen  and  obey  orders,  noting  time  accurately.  After 
parade  had  been  dismissed,  and  the  ranks  were  being  closed  by 
the  sergeants,  he  would  lay  aside  his  soldierly  manner,  flap  his 
wings,  and  make  himself  generally  at  home.  When  there  was 
an  order  to  form  for  battle,  he  and  the  colors  were  first  upon  the 
line.  His  actions  upon  those  occasions  were  uneasy,  turning  his 
head  anxiously  from  right  to  left,  looking  to  see  when  the  line 
was  completed.  Soon  as  the  regiment  got  ready,  faced  and  put 
in  march,  he  would  assume  a  steady  and  quiet  demeanor.  In 
battle  he  was  almost  constantly  flapping  his  wings,  having  his 
mouth  wide  open,  and  many  a  time  would  scream  with  wild  en- 
tlmsiasm,  This  was  particularly  so  at  the  hard-fought  battle  of 
Corinth,  when  our  regiment  repulsed  and  charged,  or,  you 
might  say,  made  a  counter-charge  on  Price's  famous  Missouri 
brigade." 

44 The  Eagle  seems,"  writes  David  McLane,  "to  have  a  dread, 
like  all  old  soldiers,  of  heavy  musketry;  but  is  in  all  his  glory 
when  the  roar  of  artillery  commences.  I  have  had  him  up  to  bat 
teries  when  they  were  firing  into  the  rebel  ranks  as  fast  as  they 
could  load,  and  then  he  would  scream,  spread  his  wings  at  every 
discharge,  and  revel  in  the  smoke  and  roar  of  the  big  guns." 

Nor  was  u  Old  Abe  "  indifferent  to  the  casualties  of 
war.  When  a  poor  soldier  was  wounded  and  bleeding, 
just  fallen,  he  would  often  give  attention  and  watch  his 
comrade  till  carried  from  the  field. 

HEPE^TING  AT   SIGHT  OF   THE  EAGLE. 

The  effect  of  u  Old  Abe's "  personal  presence,  about 
this  time,  was  peculiarly  salutary.  A  correspondent  of 


60  OLD   ABE. 

the  Chicago  Journal,  writing  from  Lane,  Illinois,  thus 
pictures  a  battle  (fought  May  16,  1863),  aimed  at  a 
closer  encirclement  of  Yicksburg,  that  decided  the  fate 
of  the  city: 

"At  Champion  Hills  — a  terrible  struggle  —  tlie  gallant  regi 
ment  was  sorely  pressed,  and  the  iron  hail  poured  down  on  the 
heroes  like  a  tempest,  The  Eagle  took  wing.  Up  — up  — he 
soared  above  the  smoke  of  the  battle,  his  screaming  piercing 
the  roar  of  the  strife  and  nerving  each  loyal  arm  with  new 
strength  and  weakening  that  of  the  foe.  The  latter  saw  and 
heard,  and  recognized  an  augury  of  defeat." 

As  the  Roman  -eagle  was  venerated  as  an  expiatory 
sacrifice  to  the  guilty  soldier,  or  prisoner,  who  clasped 
the  lance  of  the  standard  bearer,  and  then  was  par 
doned,  for  it  signified  repentance  and  fealty;  so  the 
brave  Southron,  misguided,  when  standing  in  the  pres 
ence  of  our  Eagle,  felt  the  smiting  of  national  con 
science,  and  there  and  then  the  two  enemies  hailed 
each  other  as  brothers  again. 

Lieut.  Lansing,  in  a  letter  dated  at  Aurora,  111.,  ad 
dressed  to  the  New  York  Ledger,  gives  the  following 
significant  incident: 

"The  only  time  I  ever  saw  the  Eagle  was  at  the  rear  of  Vicks- 
burg,  just  before  it  was  carried  on  the  field  at  Champion  Hills, 
during  which  engagement  he  was  seen  by  thousands  of  soldier^ 
both  Federal  and  rebel.  There  are  many  stories  circulating 
among  the  soldiers  relative  to  the  sensations  and  sad,  regretful 
longings  for  loyalty  and  peace  excited  in  the  rebel  soldier's 
heart,  on  beholding  the  American  Eagle  hovering  its  avenging 
army.  To  listen  to  them  as  told  by  the  private  soldier,  while 
sitting  by  his  camp-fire,  they  are  intensely  interesting  to  the 
loyal  mind,  and  I  wish  I  had  the  power  to  reproduce  them  with 
equal  effect;  but  my  pen  must  acknowledge  its  weakness. 


ASSAULT  OK  VICKSBUKG.  61 

There  is  one  incident,  however,  that  came  under  my  own  obser 
vation.  A  large  wooden  building  in  the  rear  of  the  field  at 
4 Big  Black  Bridge'  was  filled  with  rebel  wounded,  and  after  our 
own  soldiers'  wounds  were  dressed,  I  was  sent  thither  for  duty. 
While  extracting  a  ball  from  a  rebel's  leg,  I  was  much  surprised 
to  find  it  round,  and  a  buck-shot  imbedded  in  the  flesh  with  it,  an 
indication  of  having  come  from  rebel  guns.  It  had  entered  at 
the  back  part  of  the  thigh,  and  made  its  appearance  just  beneath 
the  skin  on  the  fore-side.  As  I  cut  on  it  and  learned  its  nature, 
I  inquired  of  the  man  how  he  received  it  —  for  I  was  impressed 
•with  the  belief  that  it  was  not  discharged  from  a  Yankee  gun. 
*  Well,  sir,'  said  he,  '  I  have  always  been  a  great  lover  of  French 
and  American  history  in  which  the  eagle  figures  so  extensively 
as  an  emblem  of  freedom,  and  when  I  saw  a  live  eagle  floating 
and  fluttering  over  your  soldiers,  yesterday,  just  in  front  of  my 
regiment,  all  my  old  love  of  American  freedom  and  loyalty  re- 
turned;  and  shortly  after,  when  we  were  obliged  to  run,  I  be 
lieved  our  cause  was  unjust,  and  so  haunted  was  I  with  thoughts 
of  disloyalty,  and  being  an  enemy  to,  and  fighting  against  that 
eagle,  that  I  determined  to  desert  the  rebel  cause  and  come  to 
his  protection!  The  first  opportunity  I  saw  was  this  morning, 
when  I  made  a  rush  for  your  lines,  and  was  fired  on  by  one  of 

our  men.'  " 

ASSAULT    ON"    VICKSBURG. 

Having  chained  Vicksburg  on  all  sides  with  batteries 
by  land  and  water,  Gen.  Grant  ordered  a  combined 
charge  to  commence  at  10  o'clock  on  the  morning  of 
the  22d  of  May,  1863.  At  the  very  minute  the  gun 
boats  began  their  vengeful  bombardment,  McClernand 
on  the  left,  McPherson  in  the  center,  and  Sherman  on 
the  right  with  the  Eagle,  simultaneously  moved  on 
their  columns  with  fixed  bayonets.  It  was  "  a  time  that 
tried  men's  souls."  The  enemy  burst  upon  the  North 
men  in  a  general  pandemonium  of  destruction;  and 
yet  they  advanced,  climbing  higher  for  the  piles  of  the 


62  OLD   ABE. 

slain,  treading  upon  their  fallen  companions,  up  furi 
ously  to  "  enter  the  lion's  angry  mouth."  The  frowning 
fortifications  streamed  forth  forked  lightning,  "blast  after 
blast,  upon  our  uncovered  ranks  below.  No  enemy 
was  discernible ;  only  solid  earth  works,  rolling  sulphur 
ous  clouds,  lurid  fires,  missiles  of  death,  confronted 
them.  Must  they  not  reach  that  volcano  —  that  crater 
of  fire,  and  smother  it?  One  hour  —  two  hours  — 
walking  over  heaps  of  the  accumulating  dead  and  dy 
ing,  and  yet  they  struggle  on;  they  reach  the  ditch; 
they  pass  it;  they  scale  the  ramparts;  they  plant  there 
the  Union  flag;  a  shout  goes  up,  but  in  an  instant  it  is 
hushed  in  the  throttle  of  death,  when  fresh  troops 
come  on  to  swell  the  slaughter,  and  yet  the  main  works 
of  those  Southrons,  so  worthy  of  our  steel,  yield  not  an 
inch. 

Meanwhile  the  Eagle  clinched  his  claws  fast  to  the 
grooves  of  his  perch,  and,  standing  under  the  proud 
colors,  bent  his  head,  soldier-like,  on  a  listening  angle, 
his  fierce  eyes  reflecting  the  glare  of  the  battle,  his 
wings  outstretched,  his  voice  heard,  as  oft  before,  cheer 
ing  his  compatriots  to  the  shock  for  conquest.  In  the 
general  wildness  and  confusion,  Homaston,  rushing  to 
keep  at  the  head  of  the  company,  central  in  the  regi 
ment,  accidentally  stepped  on  a  slippery  canebrake,  and 
fell;  when,  in  an  instant,  the  Eagle,  shocked,  doubtless, 
by  the  concussion  of  a  bullet  that  glanced  with  a  quiv 
ering  pressure  on  his  breast,  mounted  up  with  a  desper 
ate  spring  for  a  flight;  but  the  Bearer  held  fast  to  the 
perch,  whilst  "Abe,"  at  the  other  end  of  the  cord,  hav 
ing  gained  great  speed,  lifted  him  from  the  ground. 


ASSAULT  ON  YICKSBURG.  63 

dragged  him  forward  with  such  an  impetus  that  it 
brought  him  abreast  against  a  rough  log,  jerking  back 
the  bird  and  hurling  them  both  together  into  the  brush 
on  the  other  side.  The  blow  stunned  Homaston,  and 
"  nearly  knocked  the  breath  from  his  body,11  for  he  lay 
there  apparently  dead,  for  a  few  moments.  Whether 
we  call  it  providence  or  not,  that  Eagle's  flight  saved  the 
life  of  his  Bearer.  Had  he  not  fallen  at  that  instant, 
the  well  aimed  shot  of  the  enemy  at  those  conspicuous 
standards,  pouring  right  there  in  waves  of  fire,  would 
have  killed  Homaston,  and  thrown  the  company  into 
confusion.  Lieut.  Thomas  B.  Butler,  gallantly  com 
manding,  had  in  the  outset  given  Serg.  Adolph  Pitch 
special  instruction  to  "watch  the  fate  of  Homaston," 
and,  if  he  got  wounded  or  killed,  to  "  be  sure  and  secure 
the  Eagle.1'  Seeing  him  fall,  and  noting  the  few 
moments  of  suspense,  the  Sergeant  rushed  toward  him, 
just  as  he  revived,  and,  finding  him  not  killed,  returned 
to  his  duty.  Placing  the  Eagle  upon  his  perch  again, 
Homaston  hurried  forward  to  his  post  on  the  left  of  the 
regimental  colors,  borne  then  by  Sergt.  Myron  Briggs, 
and  with  him,  Lieut.  Butler  and  others,  stood  under  a 
large  tree  in  front  and  in  plain  sight  of  the  rebel  bat 
teries,  not  a  hundred  rods  distant.  Evidently  espying 
the  Eagle  and  colors,  the  rebels  poured  a  special  fire  of 
grape  upon  the  daring  group,  and  sent  a  well  aimed 
shell,  which,  hitting  the  top  of  the  tree,  cut  it  off, 
crashing  to  the  ground,  and  burst  with  a  horrid  scat 
tering,  the  pieces  of  which  tore  many  holes  in  the  flag, 
and  killed  several,  among  whom  were  Lieut.  W.  D. 
Chapman,  of  Company  F,  and  Capt.  Stephen  Estee,  of 


64:  OLD  ABE. 

Company  H.  The  Eagle  sprung  for  a  flight  again,  but 
was  held  fast,  and  both  he  and  his  Bearer  escaped  un 
harmed.  Lowering  the  colors  and  Eagle,  they  lay 
down  under  that  shivered  tree  expecting  annihilation, 
but,  resolving  to  die  at  the  best  price,  continued  to  fire 
upon  the  enemy,  when  an  Adjutant  rode  briskly  to  the 
spot  and  announced  the  order  to  u  go  forward  into  the 
ravine^  and  avoid  the  useless  slaughter.1'  The  regiment 
recoiled  over  swaths  of  the  slain;  but  Butler  and  his 
company,  in  the  dire  confusion  that  followed,  finding  a 
perfect  jam  of  men  intercepted  a  passage  to  the  right, 
swung  over  an  abattis  hugely  piled  up  in  sharp,  threat 
ening  points;  and  on  this  they  retreated  a  third  of  a 
mile  in  full  sight  and  range  of  the  enemy  in  front, 
firing  incessantly  at  the  dauntless  boys  who  moved  with 
the  utmost  difficulty  and  peril,  carrying  their  Eagle 
with  them  safely  to  the  ravine  below.  It  was  indeed 
an  eagle  leap  from  a  maelstrom  of  consuming  fire. 

As  the  crowd  gathered  in  the  ravine,  a  soldier,  chuck 
ling  over  his  trophy  and  running  with  the  rest  in  high 
glee,  brought  in  his  hand  a  live  rabbit  which  he  caught 
in  the  bushes,  when  the  whole  company,  forgetful  of 
self,  exclaimed  —  "Let's  have  him  for  Abe!"  "Here, 
Abe!"  said  the  sweating  soldier,  "you've  well  earned 
this  fellow,"  and  threw  it  to  the  perch,  the  Eagle  catch 
ing  it  in  his  claws,  and  there  in  the  raging  battle,  as 
shell  and  cannon  were  playing  freely  overhead,  he  de 
voured  his  prey,  heedless  of  noise  and  excitement. 
How  much  like  a  soldier!  His  self-possessed  demeanor 
pleased  the  boys  vastly,  it  was  so  brave  and  military. 

Leaving  the  Eagle  to  enjoy  his  meal,  his  Bearer  took 


SURRENDER   OF  VICKSBURG.  65 

several  canteens  to  fill  with  water  at  a  spring  directly 
under  the  enemy's  guns,  and  whilst  busy  at  his  duty,  a 
shell  fell  with  its  thundering  crash  near  him;  one  of 
the  exploded  pieces,  hitting  his  canteen,  dashed  it  to 
pieces;  but,  paying  no  attention  to  it,  he  deliberately 
filled  the  rest.  "  You  take  it  cool,  Ed,"  said  a  waiting 
boy,  standing  by.  "  Yes,  cool  place,  this,1'  replied  Ed  ; 
ubut  run  and  see  if  Abe  is  hurt!"  The  pet  bird  was 
still  uninjured,  gorging  on  his  rabbit.  So  it  was  every 
where;  the  soldiers  forgot  personal  peril  in  love  of  the 
Eagle;  any  day  the  whole  regiment  would  have  fought 
for  him.  Sharing  alike  the  dangers  of  march  and 
battle,  the  Eagle  was  companion  and  warrior,  sign  and 
seal  of  victory.  "  Run  and  see  if  the  Eagle  is  hurt,"  is 
the  earnest  expression  of  a  soldier's  undying  attach 
ment  and  devotion  to  the  liberty  which  the  noble  bird 
so  grandly  emblemized. 

On  carefully  examining  "  Old  Abe,"  Homaston  found 
he  was  hit  probably  with  a  spent  Minie  ball,  and  natu 
rally  concluded  it  occurred  when  he  lifted  him  up  and 
flung  him  against  the  log.  The  ball  passed  down  his 
neck  and  breast,  cutting  off  the  feathers  in  its  track. 
Had  it  glanced  the  other  way,  the  proud  bird  would 
have  fallen  ;  but  being  shot  in  the  direction  of  the  lay 
of  the  feathers,  as  he  faced  the  foe,  they  saved  his  life. 
Another  ball  passed  through  the  web  of  his  left  wing, 
making  a  round  hole  in  it.  He  is  a  scarred  veteran  to 
this  day. 

SURRENDER  OF  VICKSBURG. 

Having  foiled  every  strategy  of  the  enemy  to  place 
the  besiegers  between  the  fires  of  Pemberton  and  John- 
5 


66  OLD   ABE. 

ston,  our  war-bird,  ever  as  potent  in  battle  as  the  ark  of 
Israel,  flew  with  his  peers  to  Young's  Point,  near  Vicks- 
burg.  Here  he  was  one  of  the  "  sharpshooters,"  under 
the  enemy's  fire  from  the  shore  batteries.  Many  a  poor 
soldier  fell ;  but,  though  constantly  exposed,  no  harm 
touched  the  charmed  Eagle.  For  forty-six  days,  the 
boys  had  been  without  tents,  subject  to  every  possible 
kind  of  hardship  and  peril,  without  change  of  clothing, 
and  many  without  shoes,  being  feet-blistered  and  bleed 
ing  ;  and,  for  sixteen  days,  the  average  to  a  man  per 
day  was  but  one  cracker  ;  but  not  a  word  of  complaint 
was  uttered  by  a  single  soldier  in  the  command. 
Young's  Point  being  a  malarious  locality,  a  large  pro 
portion  of  the  regiment  was  sick  ;  but,  under  the  skill 
ful  management  and  fidelity  of  Surgeon  Murta,  and  the 
inspiriting  influences  of  the  Eagle,  ever  reminding 
them  of  the  holy  cause  for  which  they  were  suffering, 
they  conquered  almost  the  pestilence.  What  but  the 
talismanic  Eagle  could  beacon  hope  and  triumphant 
freedom  amid  destitution  and  sickness,  when  fiery  bat 
teries  were  also  vomiting  upon  them  their  contents  of 
destruction?  It  was  at  this  dangerous  point  that  Pem- 
berton's  forces,  in  their  mad  precipitancy  to  escape  from 
Grant's  coils,  made  their  last  attempt  to  cross  the  river 
in  flatboats ;  but  Eagle  eyes  were  on  them,  and  when 
they  pushed  forth  on  that  desperate  alternative,  that  in 
vulnerable  brigade  closed  up  the  gaps  with  a  destructive 
front  that  drove  the  enemy  back  to  his  recluse.  It  was 
like  "  Abe's  "  economical  reserve  of  his  prey  for  another 
occasion  of  need  ;  and  speedily  did  that  occasion  present 
itself  by  a  flag-of-truce  from  Pemberton,  and  a  meeting 


TTHTEXED  TO   THE   SEA.  67 

with  Grant  under  that  memorable  oak  tree  to  stipulate 
terms  of  surrender,  followed  the  next  day,  by  the  entree 
of  our  army,  Gen.  John  A.  Logan  at  the  head,  with 
"  stars  and  stripes,"  with  streamers  from  the  fleet,  with 
martial  music,  with  booming  cannon,  with  a  huzza  which 
our  Eagle  heard  and  echoed  in  a  war-scream  from  his 
post  of  duty,  as  his  regiment  joined  its  cheer  in  that 
grand  jubilee  which  a  nation  at  home  celebrated  with 
Te  Deums  of  thanksgiving.  We  are  apt  to  credit  great 
victories  to  the  Generals,  but  notice  not  the  faithful 
privates  that  win  them.  Let  us  do  justice,  even  to  an 
Eagle.  Though  a  private  without  pay,  he  inspired  the 
army  to  health  amid  pestilences  ;  and,  by  his  prowess, 
evoked  unfaltering  daring,  that  French  impetuosity, 
that  shiver  of  patriotic  nerve  which  delivered  the  city 
to  its  rightful  owners  ;  let  our  war-bird,  then,  be  men 
tioned  in  history  as  the  inaugural  of  that  eventful  cele 
bration  011  the  4th  of  July,  1863. 


With  an  acumen  characteristic  of  the  American  mind, 
the  Congress  of  the  Southern  Confederacy  foresaw,  that 
a  possession  of  the  Lower  Mississippi  would  be  virtual 
ly  the  establishment  of  a  separate  government;  and 
with  a  wonderful  alacrity  was  a  policy,  aiming  at  this 
result,  executed  early  in  the  war  by  fortifying  the  high 
bluffs  of  both  shores  at  the  most  commanding  and  im 
pregnable  points  to  prevent  northern  navigation,  and 
by  organizing  a  land  force  sufficient  to  baffle  a  Federal 
attempt  to  break  the  blockade.  When  the  Union  army 
entered  upon  its  conquest,  the  Confederacy  held  the 


68  OLD   ABE. 

country  from  Columbus  down  to  New  Orleans.  To 
open  the  Mississippi  was  the  problem.  The  rivals  were 
of  equal  bravery;  the  difference  was  in  the  righteousness 
of  the  cause.  Of  the  strategical  movements  it  is  need 
less  to  speak  here,  save  that,  when  the  fleet  of  Farragut, 
conquering  the  mouth  of  the  river,  reducing  New  Or 
leans  to  order  under  Benj.  F.  Butler,  combined  with  the 
fleet  of  Foote,  moving  down  the  river  from  the  North, 
both  backed  by  their  "  three  hundred  thousand  more," 
under  the  leadership  of  such  men  as  Banks,  Pope,  Mc- 
Clernand,  McPherson,  Logan,  Stanley,  Blair,  Washburn, 
Buell,  Mitchell,  and  others  of  like  calibre, —  when  the 
northern  wing,  after  several  experiments,  at  length 
gained  the  rear  of  Vicksburg,  under  the  command  of 
Maj.  Gen.  Grant,  subduing  the  city  by  a  deliberate 
siege,  necessarily  followed  by  the  surrender  of  Port 
Hudson  to  Gen.  Banks,  only  four  days  after,  —  then  the 
"  Father  of  Waters,1'  blockaded  and  chained  by  rebel 
batteries  for  more  than  two  years,  "  ran  unvexed  to  the 
sea;  "  then  this  u  possession  of  America,"  that  deprived 
the  enemy  of  sustenance  from  the  west,  became  the 
initial  of  Sherman's  Great  March  to  the  Atlantic,  which 
bisected  the  Confederacy  east  and  west,  leaving  the  in 
vincible  Grant  the  honor  of  finishing  the  rebellion  in 
Richmond.  Thus  our  emblem-warrior  of  the  dark  wing 
—  "  Old  Abe  "  —  was  a  conspicuous  actor  in  the  most 
gigantic  aud  far  reaching  strategy  of  generalship  ever 
known  in  military  annals;  and  in  it  all,  moving  with 
his  column  in  every  possible  direction,  unconscious  of 
this  magnificent  design,  he  was  hailed  as  the  swift  mes 
senger  of  justice  by  all  that  proud  and  victorious  army. 


CHASTISING  THE  ILLINOIS   SOLDIER.  69 

The  triumph  of  our  arms  was  purchased  at  the  cost  of 
41  the  flower  of  the  North,"  at  the  cost  of  brave  hearts 
in  the  sunny  South  —  though  misguided  —  till  our  mu 
tual  weeping  rose  to  Heaven  for  mercy;  but,  as  our  la 
mented  Lincoln  said  on  the  battle-field  of  Gettysburg,— 

"From  these  honored  dead  take  increased  devotion  to  the 
cause  for  which  they  gave  the  last  full  measure  of  devotion,  and 
their  high  resolve,  that  the  dead  shall  not  have  died  in  vain;  that 
the  nation  shall,  under  God,  have  a  new  birth  of  freedom,  and 
that  the  government  of  the  people,  by  the  people,  and  for  the 
people,  shall  not  perish  from  the  earth." 

CHASTISING  THE  ILLINOIS   SOLDIEE. 

While  "  Old  Abe's  "  regiment  was  stationed  at  Mes 
sengers  Ford,  the  latter  part  of  July,  there  protecting 
property  and  life  against  guerilla  hordes,  a  squad  of  the 
93d  Illinois  came  one  day  purposely  to  see  the  Eagle. 
Having  heard  of  his  dislike  of  strangers,  one  of  them 
was  quite  shy,  careful  not  to  approach  within  the  length 
of  his  cord;  but  the  boys  of  the  Eighth,  ever  on  the  alert 
for  fun,  importuned  him  to  throw  up  his  cap  and  u  see 
how  nice  the  Eagle  will  catch  it."  The  plumaged  pat 
riot  was  then  in  a  tree  surveying  his  guests  with  severe 
scrutiny.  Up  went  the  cap,  when  "  Abe,"  catching  it 
with  his  claws,  glanced  down  at  the  soldier  with  a 
roguish  whistle,  and  trampled  it  under  his  feet,  hover 
ing  and  rustling  his  wings,  and  then  holding  it  there, 
tore  it  up  with  his  beak,  flinging  the  shreds  down  with 
a  disdainful  —  "  How  do  you  like  to  insult  an  Eagle, 
sir?"  Soon  after  this  incident,  while  "Abe"  was  on 
his  perch  surveying  the  trappings  of  war,  a  negro  passed 
under  him  very  carelessly,  when,  quick  as  a  dart,  he 


70  OLD   ABE. 

reached  down  and  snatched  off  the  grimacing  darkie's  cap, 
tore  it  up,  chuckling  over  the  ruins.  He  wished  to 
teach  the  negro,  whom  he  came  to  emancipate,  a 
proper  deference  to  superiors. 

"  TAKING  A  GLASS  !  " 

"  Old  Abe's "  honor  was  not  always  at  par.  A  few 
days  after,  while  the  regiment  was  on  picket  guard  at 
Bear  Creek,  he  followed  the  example  of  certain  dignita 
ries  of  the  army  —  got  drunk !  A  soldier,  having 
bought  some  peach  brandy,  poured  out  a  saucerful, 
left  it  a  few  moments  on  the  ground,  and  turned  to  at 
tend  to  some  camp  duty,  when  u  Abe,"  always  on  the 
watch  for  spoils,  "  took  a  glass,"  and,  in  a  little  while, 
was  intoxicated  after  the  usual  style  of  hard  drinkers. 
He  lolled  his  head  and  tried  to  vomit,  flapped  his  wings 
heavily  upon  the  ground,  rolled  over,  and  behaved  in  an 
unbecoming  manner  for  an  Eagle  ! 

BED  EIYER  EXPEDITION. 

In  September,  Mr.  Homaston  resigned  his  responsible 
office,  when  the  gallant  Lieut.  Butler,  then  command 
ing,  conferred  the  honor  upon  John  Buckhardt,  of  Eau 
Claire,  who  was  initiated  into  the  military  art  of  bear 
ing  the  Eagle  in  McPherson's  and  Logan's  victorious 
charge  upon  the  enemy  at  Brownsville,  October  14, 1863. 

After  various  oscillating  marches  in  every  important 
movement  of  the  campaign,  "Abe"  was  next  seen 
proudly  marching  with  Gen.  Sherman's  army,  on  the 
27th  of  February,  1864,  into  Central  Mississippi,  as  the 
Roman  heraldry  of  success.  Arriving  at  Canton,  his  regi- 


BED   RIVER   EXPEDITION.  71 

ment  was  suddenly  ordered  back  to  Vicksburg  to  guard 
it  against  its  being  retaken  by  the  enemy.  It  was  a 
precipitate  march  on  foot  of  one  hundred  and  fourteen 
miles,  in  seventy  hours,  with  the  swiftness  of  an  Eagle 
in  pursuit  of  the  hawk.  Pestilence,  fatigue,  hunger, 
battle,  had  depleted  the  ranks.  The  loyal  bird  missed 
familiar  companions  at  almost  every  adventure  ;  yet  his 
spirit  was  unconquerable  like  that  of  his  compatriots. 
At  Vicksburg,  fresh  recruits  awoke  new  vigor.  It  is 
said  "  Old  Abe  "  actually  manifested  a  decided  pleasure 
while  scanning  the  men  on  dress  parade.  Soldierly  in 
his  instincts,  he  seemed  to  understand  that  the  war  was 
to  be  carried  to  the  bitter  end  —  to  the  last  dying  gasp 
of  an  enslaving  rebellion. 

That  army  had  conquered  the  Mississippi,  but  one  of 
its  main  arteries  —  Red  River  —  remained  blockaded  by 
the  enemy.  Should  the  "  Eagles  "  advance,  or  have  a 
furlough  to  which  they  were  entitled  ?  "  Country 
first!"  said  all;  " every  tributary  even  shall  be  re 
stored  ! "  Such  was  "  Old  Abe's  "  vote,  if  there  were 
anything  significant  of  consent  in  his  warlike  aspect. 
Under  command  of  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith,  they  embarked 
on  transports,  the  10th  of  March,  1861,  with  a  force  of 
20,000,  accompanied  by  Admiral  Porter's  fleet,  down 
the  Mississippi,  up  the  Red  River,  up  the  Atchafalaya, 
to  Simmsport,  Louisiana,  where  a  portion  of  the  troops 
landed,  marching  four  miles  to  Fort  Scurry,  situated  at 
the  junction  of  Yellow  Bayou  with  Bayou  de  Glaise, 
and  struck  an  effectual  blow  at  the  enemy  —  the  Eighth 
being  in  the  advance  with  their  invincible  Eagle.  Fol 
lowing  the  Bayou  de  Glaise,  on  the  14th,  they  marched 


72  OLD   ABE. 

over  a  charming  country  and  were  greeted  with  joy  l>y 
the  French  or  Creole  people.  As  they  displa}Ted  white 
flags  and  waved  their  handkerchiefs,  "  Old  Abe,"  accus 
tomed  mainly  to  menacing  or  scornful  attitudes  from 
the  Southern  populace,  eyed  their  demonstrations  with 
his  sharp  eyes  without  a  response,  as  if  to  say,  "  Who 
knows  whether  you  are  loyal?"  But,  when  his  regi 
ment  cheered,  he  lustily  flapped  his  wings.  Advancing 
to  Fort  de  Russy  on  the  Red  River  —  which  the  spring 
before  destroyed  our  fine  iron-clad  "  Queen  of  the 
West " —  they  immediately  invested  it,  on  the  15th,  and, 
by  assault,  carried  it  in  twenty  minutes,  with  the  Eagle- 
scream  heard  upon  the  ramparts.  Here,  joined  by  the 
fleet,  they  proceeded  the  next  morning  up  the  river, 
fifty  miles,  to  Alexandria,  where  a  request  was  made  by 
several  regimental  officers  and  captains  for  company  C 
to  transfer  the  Eagle  to  the  regiment.  u  He  is  a  nation 
al  bird,"  was  the  argument,  "  and  should  be  regimental." 
Quite  an  animated  disputation  ensued,  ending  in  a  writ 
ten  statement  of  the  original  claims  of  the  company, 
which  was  sent  to  Gen.  Mower,  who  decided  in  favor  of 
the  company  as  the  lawful  owner. 

YANKEE    TRICK. 

While  waiting  the  arrival  of  Gen.  Banks  at  Alexan 
dria,  the  "Eagles,"  in  the  second  brigade  under  Gen. 
Mower,  "  marched,  on  the  21st,  along  Bayou  Rapide, 
over  very  muddy  roads,  a  distance  of  twenty  miles,  to 
Henderson's  Hill,  where  the  enemy  was  discovered  in 
strong  position,  defended  by  artillery  "  (see  Adj.  Gay- 
lord's  Report  for  1864,  p.  36).  Finding  it  impractical 


YANKEE   TRICK.  73 

to  attack  the  enemy  in  front,  the  brigade  made  a  detour 
of  fifteen  miles,  through  cane  swamps,  where  the  enemy 
supposed  a  passage  could  not  be  effected.  It  was  then 
midnight,  and  "  dark  as  Erebus."  Stealthily  they  moved. 
Quick— a  single  note  of  the  Eagle's  whistle  —  it  was  a 
sign,  "Be  on  the  guard  !"  What  was  it  ?  A  step  ap 
proached.  It  was  a  courier  from  the  rebel  fort,  bearing 
dispatches  from  the  commander  to. Gen.  Dick  Taylor, 
then  only  four  miles  distant  with  a  force  of  12,000 
strong,  asking  for  re  enforcements  to  "  repulse  the  Yan 
kees  in  front."  The  man,  supposing  at  first  in  the  dark 
ness  that  he  was  with  Confederate  soldiers,  divulged  the 
rebel  countersign.  He  was  captured  and  forced  to  lead 
the  "  Eagle  army  "  into  the  fort  by  the  talisman  of  that 
countersign  — the  very  dark  our  Providence,  —  when 
three  hundred  and  fifty  strong,  with  four  guns,  four  hun 
dred  horses,  and  a  supply  of  ammunition  and  stores,  were 
captured.  It  was  a  descent  of  the  American  Eagle  upon 
his  prey  ;  the  rebels  cursed  and  swore  at  the  u  Yankee 
trick,"  as  "  Abe  "  screamed  his  war-cry  of  victory. 

Returning  the  next  day  to  Alexandria,  the  "  Eagles  " 
were  in  motion  again  on  the  26th,  traveling  thirty-three 
miles  on  Red  River  to  Cotile,  where  they  made  a  junction 
with  Gen.  Banks'  army,  and,  on  the  2d  of  April,  embark 
ing  on  transports,  found  the  enemy,  eighty  miles  farther 
up,  in  force  at  Grand  Ecore.  Here  another  question  of 
dispute  arose  as  to  what  company  should  carry  the  Eagle, 
for  company  C  was  assigned  the  post  of  Provost  Guard 
at  Division  Head  Quarters.  It  was  finally  tendered 
Company  I,  with  the  regimental  colors  — the  only  in 
stance  when  he  was  out  of  the  hands  of  company  C 


74  OLD  ABE. 

during  tlie  whole  war  —  and  carried  by  Mr.  Buckhardt 
through  all  the  rest  of  that  expedition. 

COVERING    THE  RETREAT. 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact,  that  even  in  retreat,  when 
hard  pressed  by  the  enemy,  that  part  of  the  army  in 
which  the  Eagle  fought  with  his  braves  by  his  screams 
and  furious  wings,  was  also  irresistible  in  a  contesting 
battle.  At  Grand  Ecore,  Gen.  Banks'  army  commenced 
its  more  vigorous  operations.  Detachments  of  the 
Eighth  were  deployed  as  skirmishers,  the  rebels  retiring 
with  slight  show  of  resistance,  as  if  to  lead  into  their 
jaws  of  destruction. 

"At  this  time  the  river  was  rapidly  falling,  endangering  their 
communications,  and  Gen.  Banks'  army  having  passed  on  in 
advance  towards  Pleasant  Hill  and  Mansfield,  for  Shreveport, 
Gen.  Smith's  forces  [Eagle  Corps]  marched  in  -the  same  direc 
tion,  on  the  morning  of  the  7th,  and  having  toiled  upwards  of 
thirty  miles  through  rain  and  over  horrible  roads,  arrived  on 
the  following  day  at  Pleasant  Hill.  During  the  early  part  of  the 
day,  a  portion  of  Gen.  Banks'  army  had  been  defeated  at  Sabiue 
Cross  Roads,  and  driven  back  in  the  direction  of  Pleasant  Hill; 
•when  Gen.  Smith's  army  was  at  once  placed  in  position  to  rally 
our  retreating  forces,  and  check  the  advance  of  the  enemy,  who 
attacked  our  lines  vigorously,  on  the  9th,  and  after  a  severe  con 
test,  lasting  four  hours,  was  repulsed  at  all  points,  and  driven 
from  the  field.  The  Eighth,  having  been  posted  to  prevent  a 
flank  movement  of  the  enemy,  was  double-quicked  to  the  front, 
and  joined  in  the  pursuit.  After  the  battle,  a  retreat  was  ordered, 
and  the  army  returned,  on  the  llth,  to  Grand  Ecore." — Adju 
tant  General's  Report,  1864." 

"  If  we  must  retreat,  let  it  be  a  victory,"  seemed  to 
be  "  Old  Abe's"  motto;  and  "No  surrender!"  was  his 


COVERING  THE  EETREAT.  75 

watchword;  and  well  did  lie  illustrate  it  during  the 
remainder  of  the  retreat.  As  his  compatriots  fired  back, 
now  on  a  rush,  now  on  the  deliberate  aim,  now  flying 
to  gain  a  shelter  of  defense,  our  Eagle,  furious  and  on 
fire,  scanned  friend  and  foe  through  the  chinks  of  the 
curling  smoke,  cheering  his  own  with  the  splendor 
of  his  example.  It  was  but  to  look  at  that  Eagle, 
raised  aloft,  with  wings  flapping,  with  eyes  of  lightning, 
with  voice  like  the  Indian  warwhoop,  and  know  that  the 
augury  was  hopeful  and  their  cause  was  just.  This 
rendered  them  unconquerable  even  in  disaster.  Cover 
ing  the  retreat  for  a  distance  of  eighty  miles,  they  held 
a  bridge  against  the  enemy,  on  the  24th,  at  Nachi- 
toches;  in  the  evening  of  the  same  day  they  fought 
him  at  Clouterville,  driving  him  back  in  confusion,  as 
the  army  made  further  advance  in  that  retreat.  Day 
and  night,  our  Eagle  was  on  the  march  and  battle,  the 
inspiriting  and  unfaltering  messenger  of  the  invincible 
Eighth,  that  saved  Gen.  Banks1  army  from  utter  rout, 
till  safely  arrived  at  Alexandria,  011  the  26th,  sub 
sisting  on  short  rations,  weary,  repulsed  in  the  main, 
but  not  disheartened.  The  evacuation  of  Red  River 
being  now  determined  upon,  the  "Eagle-wing  of  the 
Army,"  under  Gen.  Smith,  moved  up  Bayou  Rapide, 
u  Old  Abe "  on  his  heraldic  post,  to  check  the  enemy 
during  the  construction  of  the  celebrated  dam,  by 
which,  through  the  engineering  skill  of  Col.  Bailey,  of 
the  4th  Wisconsin,  our  fleet  was  saved.  On  the  3d  of 
May,  the  Eagle  was  with  his  skirmishers,  covering  the 
front  of  the  army  from  Bayou  Roberts  to  Bayou  La 
Moore,  constantly  under  fire  till  the  13th,  when  the 


76  OLD   ABE. 

retreat  of  our  whole  army  was  resumed.  On  the  left 
of  the  retreating  column  could  be  seen  our  Northern 
Eagle  of  tireless  wing,  turning,  backward  wheeling, 
advancing,  almost  shooting  the  enemy  with  those 
war-lit  eyes;  and,  as  his  braves  fought  on,  over  all  those 
weary  miles,  back  to  Fort  de  Russy,  resting  only  two 
hours  there,  on  to  the  battle  of  Maysville,  to  the  battle 
of  Mansura,  to  the  battle  at  Calhoun's  Plantation,  to 
the  battle  at  Bayou  de  Glaise,  to  the  battle  at  Atcha- 
falaya,  he  was  indeed  a  veteran  soldier  in  example  of 
fortitude  and  daring,  ever  the  sign  above  the  heads  of 
the  moving  columns  of  the  eventual  triumph  of  our 
arms.  Crossing  the  Atchafalaya,  pressing  to  the  mouth 
of  that  river,  on  the  21st,  our  uncoiiquered  Eagle  was 
at  last  safe  with  the  surviving  members  of  his  regiment 
on  board  a  transport,  landing  at  Vicksburg,  on  the  24th. 
Learning  that  the  enemy,  inflated  at  their  seeming  suc 
cess,  was  attempting  to  blockade  the  Mississippi  again, 
the  regiment  and  "  Old  Abe  "  rushed  with  other  forces 
to  Lake  Chicot,  and,  on  the  6th  of  June,  blasted  the 
design,  and  left  the  river  in  its  "  free  course  to  run  and 
be  glorified."  The  gallant  Col.  J.  W.  Jefferson  said,  in 
his  report  to  Gov.  Lewis,  of  this  continuous  battle  of 
twenty-seven  days: 

"  Half  the  time  my  men  have  been  on  short  rations,  and 
no  opportunity  of  getting  clothing  for  them  in  the  past 
three  months.  My  noble  soldiers  are  barefooted  and  in  rags, 
nevertheless  the  health  and  efficiency  of  the  men  were  never 
better.  The  campaign  is  a  failure,  but  in  every  instance  that 
our  army  (Smith's)  has  had  occasion  to  right  the  enemy,  we 
have  whipped  him  and  driven  him  in  disorder.  The  regiment 
has  been  first  to  the  front  and  last  to  leave  it" 


CENTENNIAL  BIRD   OF   STATE.  77 


CHAPTER    III. 

CENTENNIAL  BIRD  OF  STATE. 


«'  With  malice  toward  none,  with  charity  for  all,  with  firmness  in  the 
rieht,  as  God  gives  us  to  see  the  right,  let  us  strive  on  to  finish  the  work  we 
are  in,  to  bind  up  the  nation's  wounds,  and  care  for  him  who  shall  have 
borne  the  battle,  and  for  his  widow  and  his  orphans ;  to  do  all  which  may 
achieve  and  cherish  a  just  and  lasting  peace  among  ourselves  and  with  nil 
nations."  — ABRAHAM  LINCOLN'S  INAUGURAL  OP  1865. 


YEARS  of  war  —  three  of  them  —  oh,  how  terrible  to 
endure!  and  yet  the  Union  was  not  saved;  there  was  a 
more  urgent  call  than  ever  for  recruits,  and  not  in  vain 
was  the  call  for  re-enlistment.  They  were  patriots. 
They  would  blush  with  shame  to  delay  the  segis  of 
peace.  Noble  soldiers!  Up  to  June,  1864,  six  hundred 
and  thirty-one  were  able  to  do  duty.  About  three  hun 
dred  of  these  re-enlisted,  each  having  a  furlough  of  thir 
ty  days.  By  battles  and  diseases,  two  hundred  had  gone 
down  to  patriot  graves.  But  what  joy  in  the  hearts  of 
those  living  veterans  as  they  thought  of  home  —  what 
joy  admixed  with  sorrow  as  they  contemplated  their 
country's  redemption  from  tyranny,  purchased  at  so  dear 
a  price ! 

On  the  19th  of  June,  1864,  those  war-scarred  veter 
ans,  with  their  renowned  Eagle,  left  Memphis  and  ar 
rived  at  Chicago  on  the  21st,  welcomed  at  the  Soldiers1 
Rest. 


78  OLD   ABE. 

"  The  ramparts  are  all  filled  with  men  and  women, 
With  peaceful  men  and  women,  that  send  onwards 
Kisses  and  welcoming  upon  the  air 
Which  they  make  breezy  with  aiFectionate  gestures. 
From  all  the  joyous  towers  ring  out  the  merry  bells, 
The  joyous  vespers  of  a  bloody  day. 
O  happy  man!  O  fortunate!  for  whom 
The  well-known  door,  the  faithful  arms  are  open, 
The  faithful,  tender  arms,  with  mute  embracing." 

The  State  authorities  in  Madison  received  a  telegram 
from  Chicago,  stating  that  the  Eighth  Wisconsin  Vet 
erans,  numbering  two  hundred  and  forty  strong,  would 
arrive  at  that  city  on  the  22d.  They  were  received  with 
a  most  cordial  welcome.  The  Madison  State  Journal, 
of  the  23d,  thus  sums  up  the  imposing  scene: 

u  The  reenlisted  veterans  of  the  8th  Wisconsin  regiment  arrived 
on  the  afternoon  train,  Tuesday,  and  after  a  good  dinner  prepared 
for  them  at  Mosher's  Railroad  House,  marched  up  town  to  the 
Capitol  Park,  where  the  reception  took  place  a  little  after  six 
o'clock.  A  large  concourse  of  citizens  had  assembled  to  witness 
the  spectacle.  Flags  were  displayed  along  the  streets,  the  bells 
of  the  city  rung,  and  a  national  salute  fired. 

"  The  live  Eagle,  '  Old  Abe,'  and  the  tattered  and  riddled  colors 
of  the  regiment  attracted  all  eyes.  Since  we  first  saw  him  at 
Camp  Randall,  in  1861, '  Old  Abe'  has  grown  considerably,  and 
has  acquired  dignity  and  ease  of  bearing.  He  sits  on  his  perch 
undisturbedxby  any  noise  or  tumult,  the  impersonation  of 
haughty  defiance.  He  has  shared  all  the  long  marches  of  this 
regiment,  including  Sherman's  great  raid  and  the  compaign  up 
Red  River,  and  passed  through  a  great  number  of  battles,  in 
which  he  has  once  or  twice  had  some  of  his  feathers  shot  away, 
but  has  never  received  a  scratch  from  a  rebel  bullet  sufficient  to 
draw  blood.  He  is  the  pet  of  the  whole  regiment." 

After  the  regiment  had  been  drawn  up  in  the  Park, 
Gov.  Lewis  being  then  absent,  the  soldiers  were  elo- 


RETURN  TO   EAU   CLAIRE.  79 

quently  addressed  by  Gen.  Lucius  Fairchild,  Hon.  3. 
H.  Carpenter,  Hon.  Chauncey  Abbott  and  Adj.  Gen.  Au 
gustus  Gaylord. 

Nor  was  our  Eagle  forgotten  in  the  general  hilarity. 
An  object  of  majestic  interest,  well  had  he  fulfilled  the 
augury  of  victory,  three  years  before  heralded  in  that 
city: 

"  We  welcome  your  Eagle,  that  National  emblem,  whose  fame 
has  been  widely  spread  and  become  historic  through  pen  and 
song.  I  have  often  wondered  what  sensations  must  have  filled 
the  mind  of  rebels  as  you  have  borne  him  proudly  with  your 
regiment,  and  while  they  remember  the  present  attitude  they 
maintain  toward  our  government,  one  would  think  that  the  very 
sight  would  cause  them  to  hide  their  heads  in  shame.  Bear  him 
ever  aloft  with  your  advancing  shout,  and  let  the  rebels  remem 
ber —  yes,  teach  them  that  — 

'  Ne'er  shall  the  rage  of  the  conflict  be  o'er, 

And  ne'er  shall  the  warm  blood  of  life  cease  to  flow, 
And  still  'mid  the  smoke  of  the  battle  shall  soar, 

Our  Eagle  —  till  scattered  and  fled  be  the  foe.11 

"  At  the  conclusion  of  Gen.  Fail-child's  remarks,  Col.  Jefferson 
briefly  responded,  returning  the  thanks  of  the  regiment  for  the 
cordial  welcome  that  had  been  extended  to  them,  and  proposed 
•thne  cheers  and  a  big  Eagle'  for  the  Union,  the  President  of 
the  United  States,  and  the  State  officers  of  Wisconsin. 
cheers  were  given  with  great  enthusiasm  by  the  boys  of  the 
Eighth,  the  Eagle  evidently  understanding  his  pa'rt,  and  at  the 
third  hurrah,  stretching  himself  to  his  full  height,  and  expand- 
ing  his  wings  to  the  utmost." 

RETURN"  TO  EAU   CLAIRE. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  Sunday,  June  26,  a  remnant 
of  company  C  with  "  Old  Abe1'  arrived  at  Eau  Claire, 
and  was  greeted  with  booming  cannon,  martial  music, 
patriotic  songs,  and  an  abundant  feast.  It  was  a  greet- 


80  OLD   ABE. 

ing  of  civilian  and  soldier,  a  welcome  of  gratitude,  a 
kindling  of  the  memories  of  the  heroic  dead,  a  rejuve 
nation  of  hope  to  our  bleeding  country.  The  Eagle, 
assigned  a  spacious  yard  under  a  shading  oak,  received 
his  old  acquaintances  with  his  usual  dignity  —  so  much 
dignity,  that  scarcely  anyone  dared. to  touch  even  a 
kingly  feather.  How  had  he  honored  his  native  State  ! 
How  proud  were  the  Eau  Clairians  of  that  monarch 
bird  !  The  Eau  Claire  Free  Press  thus  speaks  of  those 
soldiers  and  their  Eagle  : 

"  It  will  be  remembered,  that  nearly  three  years  ago,  a  band  of 
the  stalwart  sons  of  Wisconsin,  numbering  one  hundred  strong, 
under  command  of  Capt.  J.  E.  Perkins  —  who  fell  while  gal 
lantly  leading  his  men  in  the  battle  of  Farmington,  Miss. — left 
their  homes  in  the  Chippewa  Valley,  and  all  that  was  dear  to 
them,  and  joined  the  Eighth  regiment  at  Madison,  to  defend  our 
nation  from  the  grasp  of  rebellion.  A  coufch  upon  the  tented 
field,  the  hardship  and  dangers  of  battle,  the  diseases  incident  to 
camp  life,  were  willingly  accepted  for  the  sake  of  country. 
They  swore  that  they  would  defend  our  national  banner  to  the 
last  drop  of  their  blood ;  and  they  have  kept  that  oath. 

"  The  company  has  been  filled  up  several  times,  and  now  only 
fifty-six  are  left  of  the  gallant  band.  Excepting  the  few  dis 
charged,  the  rest  are  numbered  with  the  honored  dead.  Thirty 
have  reenlisted,  thinking  their  services  are  as  much  needed  now 
as  when  the  rebellion  first  broke  out.  All  honor  is  due  them  for 
their  patriotism.  They  bring  with  them  the  'Eagle,'  whence  the 
regiment  derives  its  name. 

*  *  « rpjjg  Drave  Oi3  Eighth  has  withstood  the  repeated 
charges  of  rebel  infantry,  the  daring  clashes  of  their  cavalry,  the 
galling  fire  of  their  musketry  —  never  flinching.  The  Eagle  is 
returned  to  us  unharmed.  Well  may  Eau  Claire  be  proud  — 
proud  that  she  has  a  representative  company  in  the  Eagle  Regi 
ment —  proud  that  the  Eagle,  so  famous,  is  a  native  of  the  Chip 
pewa  Valley." 


CELEBRATION  AT   CHIPPEWA  FALLS.  81 

CELEBRATION  AT  CHIPPEWA   FALLS. 

In  a  few  days  "  Old  Abe "  visited  his  own  county 
—  Chippewa —  where  he  heard  again  the  mellow  flow 
of  the  waters  that  kiss  the  ferns  of  his  wild  home,  caught 
with  fiery  glances  the  sunlight  that  dusts  with  gold  the 
lakes  where  "  Chief  Sky  "  snatched  from  his  eyrie  our 
plumaged  hero  and  gave  him  to  the  "  pale-face,"  as 
if  to  indicate  an  equal  claim  to  a  protective  freedom 
thus  emblemized  to  his  "  sable  brother."  On  the 
4th  of  July,  1864,  the  Union  people  celebrated  our  Day 
of  Independence  at  Chippewa  Falls.  Several  soldiers 
with  "  Old  Abe  "  were  present.  A  huge  wigwam  was 
constructed,  in  which  was  served  a  great  feast,  the  pro 
ceeds  being  for  our  suffering  soldiers.  Headed  by  a 
band  of  music  and  the  Eagle  on  his  old  perch,  followed 
by  his  compatriots  in  arms,  the  enthusiastic  procession 
marched  through  the  streets;  it  was  inspiring.  A  cor 
respondent,  writing  about  it,  says: 

"  The  boys  of  the  Eighth,  with  their  pet  bird,  honored  the 
stand.  The  dignified  and  noble  looking  creature  remained  quiet 
until  Mr.  Barrett  addressed  the  veterans  and  their  Eagle,  when  he, 
(the  Eagle),  turned  his  head  with  admirable  grace,  and  with  a 
most  intelligent  expression  in  his  eyes,  listened  attentively  to  the 
peroration,  and,  when  it  was  finished,  with  his  beak  he  smoothed 
down  the  feathers  of  his  breast,  manifesting  great  pride  at  the 
attention  bestowed  upon  him.  At  the  close  of  the  speech,  three 
cheers  were  given  for  the  old  starry  flag,  three  for  the  brave 
boys  of  the  Eighth,  and  three  for  the  War-Eagle,  and  instantly 
that  Eagle,  catching  the  enthusiasm,  rose  upon  his  perch, 
flapped  his  wings,  and  with  a  look  expressive  of  delight,  uttered  a 
sharp,  shrill  cry,  calling  forth  the  applause  of  the  excited  mul 
titude." 


82  OLD   ABE. 

"OLD  ABE"  A  GENTLEMAN  PASSENGER. 

Furlough  days  having  expired,  the  regiment  on  differ 
ent  routes  hurried  back  to  Memphis,  about  the  first  of 
August.  It  will  be  remembered  that  about  that  time  a 
Union  patriot  did  not  calculate  courtesy  to  our  coun 
try's  enemy  against  principle;  that  the  bravery  of  a 
soldier  rose  to  audacity,  when  the  occasion  warranted  it. 
Confident  of  "  Old  Abe's  "  rights,  Mr.  Buckhardt  took 
him  on  board  a  passenger  car  of  the  Illinois  Central  Rail 
road,  amid  the  stare  and  cheer  of  hundreds.  The  con 
ductor  soon  appeared,  and  seeing  the  bird  occupying 
half  a  seat,  demanded  double  fare.  The  Bearer  refusing 
to  pay  only  for  himself,  high  words  ensued  with  con 
siderable  swearing. 

"  Pay  for  that  thing,  or  I'll  put  you  out! "  again  mut 
tered  the  enraged  conductor,  placing  his  hand  with 
heavy  force  upon  the  Bearer's  shoulder. 

"  Te  Eakel  is  von  free  pirdt  —  free  'Merigan  Eakel;  — 
he  ride  free." 

Matters  grew  squally;  the  conductor  seized  him  by 
the  collar,  when,  with  a  rush  and  a  menace,  several 
soldiers  circled  around  John  and  his  Eagle,  demanding 
"  fair  play  for  '  Old  Abe.'  r  Seeing  this  unlocked  for 
motion,  and  realizing  the  fact  that  nearly  all  the  pas 
sengers  sympathized  with  the  German,  the  conductor, 
showed  his  valor  by  sliding  backwards  with  an  adroit 
expertness  out  into  another  car. 

"  Copperhead  ! "  shouted  the  boys  with  a  laugh  ; 
"might  as  well  fight  such  sneaks  as  rebs,  John,  eh?" 
The  result  was  the  soldier-bird  rode  the  entire  route 


BALD-HEADED   VETERAN".  83 

as  a  u  gentlemen  passenger,"  much  to  the  satisfaction 
and  amusement  of  the  Union  friends  on  board. 

BALD  HEADED  VETERAN. 

Soldiers  left  at  Memphis  could  scarcely  recognize 
"  Old  Abe,"  he  had  changed  so  by  his  northern  trip. 
In  fact  he  had  become  white  headed ;  so  they  called  him 
"  Bald  Headed  Veteran."  Indian  traders  say  the  head 
and  neck  feathers  of  this  species  of  eagle,  for  the  first 
three  and  four  years,  are  dark,  after  which  they  gradu 
ally  turn  to  white.  This  agrees  with  the  fact  stated  of 
"  Old  Abe,"  for  at  the  time  of  his  furlough,  he  was  be 
tween  three  and  four  years  old. 

Maria  S.  Cummings,  in  the  October  number  of  "Our 
Young  Folks,"  for  1866,  giving  an  outline  of  "  Old  Abe's" 
career,  draws  the  following  beautiful  moral  about  what 
she  styles  "  Our  Bald  Headed  Representative  : " 

"  He  belongs  to  the  Bald-Heacl,  or  more  correctly  the  White- 
Headed  famil3r,  a  species  that  in  some  respects  are  all  young  vet- 
terans,  inasmuch  as,  at  three  or  four  years  old,  their  head-feathers 
which  were  originally  brown,  have  become  snowy  white,  giving 
them  a  dignified  and  venerable  appearance.  The  other  name  of 
Bald-Head  is  derived  from  a  spot  between  the  beak  and  eyes, 
which  is  almost  wholly  destitute  of  feathers,  so  that  the  Bald 
Eagle,  which  is  the  emblem  of  America,  assumes  in  his  youth 
the  honors  which  belong  to  a  bald  head  and  a  hoary  crown, 
although  one  would  think  he  might  afford  to  wait  longer  for 
them,  as  the  eagle  is  a  very  long-lived  bird,  instances  having 
been  known  of  his  living  to  be  a  hundred  years  old. 

"  And  so  with  the  country  of  which  the  Bald-Head  is  the  rep 
resentative.  Although  America  is  a  young  nation,  she  has  had 
so  much  experience,  and  has  progressed  so  much  faster  than  the 
nations  of  the  Old  World,  that,  if  she  could  see  herself  in  the 
mirror  of  history,  she  would  appear  with  a  fresh,  ruddy  face,  and 


84:  OLD   ABE. 

a  strong  frame,  but  a  little  wrinkled  and  bald  about  the  temples, 
and  with  hair  which  care  and  anxiety  have  turned  prematurely 
gray.  But  long  life  to  her,  and  a  high  place  among  the  nations! 
and  if  she  too  has  become  a  veteran  in  her  youth,  may  it  be  with 
her  as  with  our  Eagle,  —  only  the  courage,  strength,  and  wisdom 
which  she  has  acquired  on  her  many  hard-fought  fields  that  enti 
tle  her  to  the  name." 

"  OLD  ABE?S  "  LAST  BATTLE. 

Rallying  again  around  the  flag  and  the  Eagle,  in  Gen. 
A.  J.  Smith's  division,  there  was  a  rush,  August  13th, 
1864,  after  Forrest  and  his  hosts.  Crossing  the  Talla- 
hatchie  River,  and  skirmishing  near  Abbeville  —  "Old 
Abe,"  on  his  war-shield,  carried  by  Mr.  Buckhardt  — 
the  Union  army  met  the  enemy  at  Hurricane  Creek, 
Miss.  Having  two  batteries  on  a  distant  eminence,  to 
back  his  advance,  Gen.  Joseph  Mower,  who  had  so  long 
distinguished  himself,  led  his  faithful  brigade  within 
a  mile  of  the  hill  that  peered  up  a  hundred  feet  above 
the  open  field.  The  batteries  of  the  rival  forces  played 
upon  each  other  until  night,  when,  under  its  cover,  our 
cavalry  by  an  expert  movement,  flanked  the  rebel  lines 
on  both  sides,  leaving  the  front  open  for  a  charge.  On 
the}'  rushed,  intercepted  by  a  muddy  creek,  and  thick 
clump  of  alders,  but  forming  on  the  other  side,  the  steady 
columns  moved  like  a  tornado,  the  "  Eagles,"  wheeling 
to  the  back  of  the  hill,  when  "  Old  Abe,"  again  in  all 
his  glory,  with  eye  of  lightning,  with  head  and  neck 
elongated  to  swiftest  dash,  with  a  whistle  quick  and 
startling  to  nerve  and  pluck,  charged  with  them  up,  up 
the  ramparts,  flinging  the  enemy  off  as  with  the  sweep 
of  an  Eagle's  wing,  frightened,  dismayed,  broken,  nar 
rowly  escaping  at  a  fearful  loss.  As  the  dead  and 


OLD  ABE'S  LAST  BATTLE.  85 

wounded  lay  side  by  side  —  brothers  there,  as  by  right 
they  should  be,  at  the  portal  of  death — the  very  ground 
trembled  for  the  shout  of  the  victors,  while  the  scream 
of  the  war-bird  was  heard  clear  and  distinct  amid  the 
general  carnival  of  groans  and  rejoicings. 

This  was  " Old  Abe's"  last  battle  in  the  Great  Rebel 
lion.  It  was  the  seal  of  his  perpetual  conquests.  He 
was  the  hero  of  about  twenty-five  great  battles,  and  as 
many  skirmishes.  To  what  agency  must  we  attribute 
his  "  charmed  life,"  when  the  story  must  be  told  again 
and  again  by  patriot  sires  to  their  worthy  sons,  that, 
though  in  the  fiercest  fights,  not  a  Bearer  of  the  colors 
or  of  the  Eagle  —  ever  conspicuous  marks  for  the  enemy 
—  was  shot  down.  The  Eagle  seemed  as  protective  to 
these  Bearers  as  was  the  standard  of  the  cross  in  the  bat 
tles  of  Constantine.  In  the  great  battle  against  Lucini- 
us,  which  gave  Constantine  the  undivided  mastery  of 
the  Roman  world,  one  man,  who,  in  terror,  transferred 
the  standard  to  another,  was  immediately  pierced  by  a 
spear,  while  the  Bearer  of  it  passed  on  unhurt  amid  a 
shower  of  javelins,  and  not  a  man  in  its  immediate 
neighborhood  was  even  wounded.  If  the  Eagle  could 
dodge  bullets,  as  the  soldiers  declare  he  did,  not  so  the 
Bearers.  Many  a  sharpshooter  fired  at  these  boys,  but 
failed  to  kill  one  of  them.  In  the  bloodiest  carnage, 
they  and  their  living  standard  were  unharmed.  Did 
it  not  portend  the  preservation  of  the  Union?  a  Prov 
idence,  holding  death  at  bay,  as  with  our  Washington, 
when  British  soldiers  singled  him  out,  to  prove  that  the 
American  Eagle  of  Justice  can  never  fall  at  the  hands 
of  an  enemy? 


86  OLD  ABE. 

BATTLES  AND   SKIRMISHES. 

Fredericktown,  Mo.,                                  -  Oct.    21,  1861 

Siege  of  New  Madrid  and  Island  No  10,  Mo.,  M'h  and  Ap,  1862 

Point  Pleasant,  Mo.,            -           -           -  M'ch  20,  1862 

Farrnington,  Miss.,       ....  May     9,  1862 

Before  Corinth,  Miss.,        -           -  May  28,  1862 

luka,  Miss.,       -                      -           -           -  Sept.  12,  1862 

Burnsville,  Miss.,    ....  Sept.  13,  1862 

luka,  Miss., Sept.  16, 18,  1862 

Corinth,  Miss.,         ....  Oct.      3, 4,  1862 

Tallahatchie,  Miss.,      ....  Dec.     2,  1862 

Mississippi  Springs,  Miss.,            -           -  May  13,  1863 

Jackson,  Miss.,                         -           -           -  May  14,  1863 

Assault  on  Vicksburg,  Miss.,        -           -  May  22,  1863 

Mechanicsburg,  Miss.,             ...  June    4,  1863 

Richmond,  La.,        ....  June  15,  1863 

Vicksburg,  Miss.,         -           -                       -  June  24,  1863 

Surrender  of  Vicksburg,  Miss.,    -           -  July     4,  1863 

Brownsville,  Miss.,       ....  Oct.    14,  1863 

Fort  Scurry,  La.,     ....  M'ch  13,  1864 

Fort  de  Hussy',  La.,       ....  M'ch  15,  1864 

Henderson's  Hill,  La.,        .           .           -  M'ch  15,  1864 

Grand  Ecore,  La.,                     -           -           -  Apr.     2,  1864 

Pleasant  Hill,  La.,               .           .           .  Apr.     8,9,  1864 

Nachitoches,  La.,                      -           -           -  Apr.  20,  1864 

Kane  River,  La.,      ....  Apr.  22,  1864 

Clouterville  and  Crane  Hill,  La.,        -           -  Apr.  23,  1864 

Bayou  Rapide,  La.,            -           .           .  May     2,  1864 

Bayou  La  Moore,  La.,              .           .           -  May     3,  1864 

Bayou  Roberts,  La.,            .           .           -  May     4-6,  1864 

Moore's  Plantation,  La.,          .  .  -  May     8-12,1864 

Mansura,  La.,                                   .           .  May  16,  1864 

Maysville,  La.,  -                       ...  May  17,  1864 

Calhoun's  Plantation,  La.,             .           .  May  18,  1864 

Bayou  de  Glaise,  La.,               -           .           -  May  18,  1864 

Lake  Chicot,  La.,     ....  June    6,  1864 

Hurricane  Creek,  La.,              .           .           -  Aug.  13,  1864 


MUSTERED  OUT.  87 

WAR  BEARERS  OF  THE  EAGLE. 

1.  James  McGenuis,  of  Eau  Claire,  from  Sept.  1,  1861,  to  May 

30,  1862. 

2.  Thos.  J.  Hill,  of  Eau  Claire,  from  May  30, 1862,  to  Aug.  18, 1862. 

3.  David  McLane,  of  Meiiomonie,  from  Aug.  18, 1862,  to  Oct.  — , 

1862. 

4.  Edward  Homaston,  of  Eau  Claire,  from  Oct.  — ,  1862,  to  Sept. 

— ,  1863. 

5.  John  Buckhardt,  of  Eau  Claire,  from  Sept.  — ,  1863,  to  Sept. 

— ,  1864. 

5.  John  F.  Hill,  during  transit  from  Chicago  to  Madison,  Sept., 
— ,  1864. 

MUSTERED   OUT. 

Returning  to  Memphis,  011  the  29th,  in  pursuit  of 
Forrest,  who  was  then  fighting  the  patriotic  Gen.  C. 
C.  Washburn,  "  Old  Abe"  parted  with  the  regiment  for 
the  last  time.  Having  served  the  three  years'  enlist 
ment,  a  portion  of  Company  C  was  to  be  mustered  out. 
Now  the  serious  question  arose,  "  What  shall  be  done 
with  the  Soldier-Bird?  "  A  discussion  followed.  Some 
were  in  favor  of  giving  him  to  the  County  of  Eau 
Claire,  others  to  the  National  Government  at  Washing 
ton,  others  to  the  State  of  Wisconsin.  All  things  con 
sidered,  the  latter  motion  prevailed,  and  was  finally 
voted  unanimously.  It  was  an  affectionate  adieu  to 
their  "  companion  in  arms."  The  main  body  of  that 
veteran  regiment  remained  till  the  close  of  the  war, 
fighting  other  battles,  under  gallant  officers  whose 
record  is  unsullied,  campaigning  in  eleven  states,  travel 
ing  by  rail,  river,  and  on  foot,  15,179  miles,  and  was 
mustered  out  at  Demopolis,  Ala.,  Sept.  5,  1865,  crowned 
with  palms  of  victory,  blessed  by  a  grateful  country. 


88  OLD  ABE. 

Twenty-six  of  Company  C  took  their  precious 
charge  —  "Old  Abe"  —  and  wended  their  way  north, 
reaching  Chicago,  Sept.  21,  1864,  where  Buckhardt  re 
signed  his  " Eagle  Commission"  to  John  F.  Hill, 
brother  of  Thomas.  Being  disabled  from  a  wound 
received  at  Corinth,  he  was  obliged  to  rest  occasionally 
at  the  corners  of  the  streets,  where  knots  of  citizens 
gathered  to  learn  of  the  career  of  the  Eagle.  He  was 
returning  from  the  war  with  the  proudest  and  most 
famous  bird  that  ever  fanned  the  breeze  of  heaven. 
The  "  Eagle- Veteran  "  of  the  Great  Rebellion,  with  eye 
unblanched,  with  fearless  and  untiring  wing,  with 
talons  still  grasping  the  lightnings  of  battle,  comes 
home  to  rest,  crowned  with  honors.  Oft  had  he  by  ex 
ample  cheered  the  desponding,  roused  ambition,  and 
encouraged  sacrifices.  He  had  enlivened  the  dull  hours 
of  camp  life,  and  stood  aloft  with  unfurled  pinions,  and 
with  wild,  terrible  shriek,  led  the  deadly  charge  to  vic 
tory.  Under  the  war-flag,  tattered  and  torn,  yet  blaz 
ing  with  the  stars  he  loved,  this  "Bird  of  the  Union n 
had  taught  by  his  spirit  the  true  art  of  conquest,  and 
evoked  a  purpose,  a  daring,  a  martyr  spirit,  that  can  be 
felt  only  in  like  hearts  that  love  liberty  better  than  lifer 
that  gives  us  the  cross  and  the  future  the  crown. 

TRANSFERRED    TO   THE    STATE. 

Arriving  at  Madison,  on  the  22d  of  Sept.,  1864,  those 
war-scarred  soldiers  were  paid  for  their  services;  and 
now  the  Eagle  must  have  attention.  The  hero-bird,  on 
his  old  perch,  was  taken  across  the  shady  park  and 
thence  into  the  aisle  of  the  Capitol,  where  Capt.  Wolf 


MUSTERED   OUT.  89 

and  Mr.  Hill,  with  a  few  other  soldiers,  were  met  by 
Quarter  Master  Gen.  N".  F.  Lund,  who  immediately  en 
tered  the  Executive  Department  and  informed  Gov. 
Lewis  that  "  Old  Abe  "  was  in  waiting.  The  Madison 
State  Journal  thus  described  the  event: 

"An  interesting  presentation  was  made  at  3  o'clock  yesterday 
(the  26tli)  afternoon,  in  the  Governor's  room.  This  was  nothing 
less  than  the  presentation  of  the  celebrated  Eagle  of  the  8th 
Regiment  to  the  State  of  Wisconsin.  Capt,  "Wolf,  of  Company 
C,  the  color  company,  and  the  one  having  the  care  of  the  Eagle, 
presented  it  to  Gov.  Lewis,  stating  how  it  was  valued  by  the 
regiment;  how  it  had  been  in  their  midst,  between  their  flags  in 
many  a  victorious  conflict  with  the  enemy,  and  how  it  had 
cheered  and  kept  up  their  spirits  by  its  bright  eye  and  dauntless 
mien  during  weary  marches  and  the  tedium  of  camp  life.  It 
had  been  with  them  for  three  years;  and  when  the  time  of  the 
men  of  the  company  expired,  and  they  were  about  to  leave  the 
service,  they  and  the  veterans  voted  that  the  Eagle  should  be 
presented  to  the  State,  to  be  kept  as  an  honored  and  inspiring 
memento  of  the  8th  Regiment,  and  the  times  in  which  it  had 
fought  the  battles  of  the  nation  with  the  true  and  strong  men 
who  rallied  around  the  flag. 

"  Gov.  Lewis,  on  the  part  of  the  State,  had  pleasure  in  accept 
ing  the  famous  Eagle  of  the  8th  regiment,  and  assured  the  Cap 
tain,  that  it  would  be  well  cared  for  at  the  Capitol,  where  it 
would  remain  to  invoke  inspiring  memories  of  the  brave  boys 
who  had  carried  it  with  such  honor  to  themselves  and  the  State. 

"  The  Governor  then  handed  the  Eagle  on  its  perch  to  Quarter 
master  General  Lund,  who  said  he  would  see  that  it  was  suita 
bly  kept. 

"  The  Eagle  never  looked  better  than  at  present,  its  plumage 
being  full  and  glossy  and  its  eye  piercingly  bright.  It  will  be 
an  honored  curiosity  at  the  Capitol,  and  the  many  tales  connected 
with  its  service  in  the  field  with  the  gallant  8th,  will  often  be 
told  and  re-told  to  the  admiring  crowds  that  perhaps  for  years 
and  years  will  come  to  see  the  Badger  Eagle." 


90  OLD   ABE. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  receipt  of  the  Eagle 
from  Gov.  Lewis  to  Gen.  Lund : 

"  MADISON,  Sept.  26, 1864. 

" Received  from  the  Governor,  the  live  Eagle, '  Old  Abe'  of 
the  Eighth  Reg't  Wis.  Vol.  Infantry. 

"  The  Eagle  was  formally  presented  to  the  Governor,  in  his 
office,  to-day  at  3  o'clock,  by  Capt.  Victor  Wolf,  of  company  C, 
in  behalf  of  the  company  and  the  regiment,  the  above  named 
company  having  brought  the  Eagle  into  Canip  Randall,  in  Sep. 
tember,  1861,  from  Eau  Claire,  and  carried  him  through  all  the 
marches  and  battles  of  the  regiment  since  that  time.  This  hav 
ing  been  the  color  company,  the  Eagle  has  been  borne  by  them 
beside  the  colors  of  the  regiment.  The  majority  of  the  com 
pany  had  within  the  past  three  days  been  paid  off  and  mustered 
out  of  service.  They  arrived  here  on  the  22d  inst.  In  present- 
ing  the  Eagle  to  the  Governor,.  Capt.  Wolf  said  he  had  been  a 
good  soldier,  and  never  had  flinched  in  battle  or  march;  that  he 
had  been  well  cared  for  by  company  C,  and  he  hoped  he  would 
be  as  well  taken  care  of  by  the  State.  In  reply,  the  Governor 
assured  the  Captain  that  the  Eagle  should  be  well  and  carefully 
taken  care  of,  and  as  safely  kept  as  possible,  as  long  as  he  lived." 

Gen.  Lund  and  Adj't  Gen.  Gaylord,  in  their  annual 
reports  for  1864,  speaking  of  the  old  flags  of  the  regi 
ments  returned  to  the  State  —  "torn  and  shattered  by 
shot  and  shell,  often  all  that  remained  of  them  being  a 
few  'honorable  rags '"  —  classifies  "Old  Abe"  with  the 
War  Relics.  (Adj't  Gen.  Report,  pp.  146,  422.) 

The  State  authorities  and  citizens  of  Madison  at  large, 
are  much  attached  to  "  Old  Abe,"  and  often  inquire  how 
he  fares.  Like  any  other  illustrious  veteran,  he  is 
brought  out  and  paraded  on  occasions  of  public  milita 
ry  exercises  or  review,  and  is  always  sure  to  excite  at 
tention  and  enthusiasm.  Even  now,  at  his  quiet  home 
in  Madison,  under  the  shadow  of  the  Capitol,  this  brave 


OLD   ABE^S  FIGHT  WITH  ANDY  JOHNSON".  91 

bird  is  much  excited  by  the  report  of  firearms,  flapping 
his  wings  and  otherwise  manifesting  his  familiarity 
with  their  use.  At  present  he  has  a  pleasant  and  well- 
lighted  room  in  the  basement  of  the  Capitol,  in  which 
is  a  permanent  roost ;  he  also  has  the  freedom  of  an 
adjoining  room,  and,  in  the  summer,  the  Capitol  Park 
is  his,  under  the  care  of  his  attendant. 

"OLD  ABE'S"  FIGHT  WITH  "ANDY  JOHNSON." 

A  few  years  agor  "  Abe  "  had  an  eagle-mate  from  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  that  came  into  the  possession  of  the 
49th  Wisconsin  Regiment,  near  the  close  of  the  war, 
and  subsequently  was  given  to  the  State.  This  "  vicious 
bird,"  as  he  was  called,  bore  the  honored  name  of  u  Phil 
Sheridan,"  but  it  was  afterwards  changed  to  "Andy 
Johnson."  Whenever  these  eagles  met,  there  was  sure 
to  be  a  terrible  battle  of  wings,  beaks  and  claws,  "  hold 
ing  on  like  bull  dogs,"  each  intent  on  the  mastery.  It 
was  always  necessary  to  part  the  "  Chippewa  and  Rocky 
Mountain  Eagles,"  to  prevent  their  injuring  each  other 
in  those  desperate  fights.  One  day,  "  Old  Abe "  being 
somewhat  unwell,  was  fairly  whipped  by  his  antagonist. 
Laying  up  a  store  of  vengeance,  subsequently  u  Abe," 
with  a  cunning  instinct  flew  upon  the  top  of  the  open 
door,  and  when,  at  last,  "  Andy  "  appeared,  he  descend 
ed  upon  him  with  a  loud  scream,  and  fastened  his  claws 
in  the  neck  of  his  enemy  and  completely  vanquished 
him.  "  Andy  "  soon  after  pined,  and  died  in  the  spring 
of  1874  —  doubtless  from  the  effects  of  "  Abe's  "  talons  - 
when  his  skin  was  properly  stuffed  and  is  kept,  as  a 
relic  of  the  war,  in  the  Historical  Rooms.  The  victo- 


92  OLD   ABE. 

rious  Cliippewa  Eagle  showed  no  whimpering  over  the 
demise,  but  seemed  to  glory  in  at  last  being  sole  mon 
arch  of  the  "Eagle  Department  of  State." 


Since  the  war  "  Old  Abe  "  has  had  many  to  care  for 
him.  First,  John  H.  McFarland,  State  Armorer,  suc- 
ceeeded  by  Capt.  A.  R.  McDonald,  during  Gov.  Fair- 
child's,  Washburn's  and  part  of  Taylor's  administra 
tion;  subsequently  by  Capt.  John  Stock  and  E.  G.  Lin- 
derman,  present  State  Armorer.  Being  a  military  char 
acter  and  public  property,  he  belongs  in  the  Depart 
ment  of  the  Adjutant  General,  now  filled  by  Gen.  Geo. 
A.  Hanaford,  who  takes  a  great  pride  in  the  war-bird. 
Win.  J.  Jones,  Hugh  Lewis,  Eugene  Bowen,  Geo.  W. 
Baker — each  of  whom  has  the  honor  of  an  "armless 
sleeve  " — Harry  W.  Lovejoy,  another  "  scarred  veteran," 
Thomas  Welch  and  I.  E.  Troan  have  had  more  or  less 
charge  over  him. 

Bearers  and  attendants  have  invariably  cherished  a 
strong  affection  for  "  Old  Abe."  There  is  that  about 
him  which  always  engenders  a  deep  and  lasting  friend 
ship.  So  intelligent  and  grateful  for  fidelity  to  his 
needs,  so  keenly  just,  he  is  indeed  the  most  winning 
warrior  that  ever  fought  a  battle.  Capt.  McDonald, 
who  was  uncommonly  successful  in  managing  his  "  Ea 
gle  Highness,"  had  him  so  well  trained  that  if  any  one 
entered  the  "  Eagle  Department  "  whom  the  Captain  did 
not  want  there,  a  look  and  word  to  "  Old-  Abe  "  were 
sufficient  hints  for  him  to  drive  such  out  with  a  furious 
onslaught.  The  bird  knew  even  his  master's  step,  and 


COMPANIONSHIP  OF   OLD  ABE.  93 

would  cheer  and  chuckle  before  he  opened  the  door. 
He  is  good  company  all  the  live-long  day.  Occasion 
ally,  when  the  Captain  put  a  gun  in  a  vice  to  repair  it, 
41  Abe  "  would  hop  on  to  the  other  end,  intently  watch 
ing  the  process,  and  if  his  master  dropped  his  hammer, 
down  would  jump  the  Eagle,  pick  it  up  and  run  off  with 
it  for  a  mutual  frolic.  When  specially  invited,  he 
would  carefully  walk  up  the  Captain's  arm,  and,  stand 
ing  upon  his  shoulder,  affectionately  rub  his  white  head 
against  his  master's  face  and  comb  his  beard  with  his 
beak,  ever  whistling  a  merry  appreciation  of  such  confi 
dence  and  companionable  attention. 

Though  a  bird  of  prey,  of  merciless  reputation,  he 
has  sometimes  exhibited  wonderful  forbearance  and 
even  friendship  for  his  victim.  After  the  Avar,  a  beauti 
ful  red  rooster  was  given  to  him  for  a  dinner,  and  not 
only  did  he  spare  the  creature's  life,  but  became  his  fast 
friend,  both  playing  and  roosting  together  on  the  same 
perch. 

His  memory  is  as  keen  as  his  friendship.  After  the 
war,  Edward  Homaston  chanced  to  see  the  Eagle  in  a 
crowd  at  the  depot  in  Madison.  He  knew  his  bird,  but 
feigning  otherwise,  he  exclaimed,  "  Why,  here  is  an 
Eagle!"  and  instantly  put  out  his  hand  to  pat  him  on 
the  head,  when  his  attendant  checked  him,  saying, 
"  Take  care,  there,  the  Eagle  will  hurt  you! "  "  Hurt 
me?"  said  Homaston,  almost  embracing  "  Old  Abe." 
"  See  here,  man! "  It  was  a  beautiful  sight,  indeed;  the 
Eagle  extended  his  wings,  screeched  and  cooed,  over 
joyed  at  once  more  greeting  his  old  Bearer.  A  similar 
recognition  occurred  sometime  in  the  year  of  1867,  in 


94:  OLD   ABE. 

the  Eagle's  apartment  in  the  Capitol,  as  related  hy  Mrs. 
Ole  Bull.  This  lady,  and  some  friends,  were  visiting 
"  Old  Abe,1'  careful  not  to  approach  too  near,  when  a 
gentleman,  whom  they  afterwards  learned  was  one  of 
the  Bearers  while  in  active  service,  entered  the  room, 
and  instantly  "  Abe  "  screamed  aloud  and  flew  to  him  — 
the  ladies,  alarmed,  thinking  it  meant  fight  —  and 
alighted  upon  his  shoulder,  pressing  his  bald  head 
against  his  cheek  with  a  familiar  "How  do  you  do, 
my  old  friend  of  battle  times?" 

NORTHWEST    SANITARY  FAIR. 

As  a  civilian,  our  Eagle  has  made  himself  very  use 
ful.  The  patriotic  reader  will  remember  how  earnest 
and  munificent  were  the  people  in  ministering  to  the 
needs  of  soldiers  in  the  field,  and  especially  to  the  sick 
and  wounded.  Every  possible  art  was  used  to  procure 
food,  clothing,  money,  books  and  everything  to  make 
them  comfortable.  As  "  Abe  "  had  become  famous,  he 
was  often  on  exhibition.  In  the  winter  of  1864,  a 
grand  movement  was  projected  by  influential  ladies  of 
the  West  to  have  a  great  Fair  in  Chicago.  The  follow 
ing  letter,  dictated  by  Gov.  James  T.  Lewis  to  his  Pri 
vate  Secretary,  explains  a  cooperative  work  : 

"  STATE  OP  WISCONSIN,  EXECUTIVE  DEPARTMENT, 

MADISON,  Jan.  24,  1865. 

"  J.  O.  BARRETT,  ESQ.  Sir :  Tours  of  the  17th  is  received. 
The  Governor  directs  me  to  say,  in  reply,  that  he  cordially  ap 
proves  of  your  idea  of  writing  a  History  of  the  Eagle  of  the  8th 
Wisconsin,  and  feels  confident  that,  in  doing  so  in  the  way  pro 
posed,  you  may  greatly  benefit  our  suffering  soldiers.  The  Gov 
ernor  has  no  objection  to  your  taking  the  Eagle  to  the  Fair  of 


NORTHWEST   SANITAKY  FAIR. 

the  Northwest  Sanitary  Commission,  to  be  held  in  Chicago  next 
spring,  as  suggested,  and  will  see  that  your  wishes  in  this  respect 
are  carried  out  at  the  proper  time.  Respectfully, 

K  H.  FIKMIN,  Gov.  Pr.  Serfy." 


The  history,  referred  to  by  the  Governor,  consisted  of 
detatched  sketches  of  the  Eagle,  gleaned  from  such 
sources  as  were  then  available  to  the  author,  and  sold  at 
the  Fair,  by  A.  L.  Sewall,  netting,  with  his  pictures, 
$16,000,  appropriated  for  the  benefit  of  the  sick  and 
wounded  soldiers.  Synoptical  facts  of  it  appeared 
in  popular  magazines  and  school  books,  and  subse 
quently  were  published  in  E.  B.  Quiner's  "Military 
History  of  Wisconsin"  (p.  539),  Wm.  DeLoss  Love's 
"Wisconsin  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion1'  (pp.  519  and 
769),  Clias.  R.  Tuttle's  "  Illustrated  History  of  the  State 
of  Wisconsin"  (p.  458),  Mrs.  A.  H.  Hoge's  uBoys  in 
Blue  "(p.  431). 

The  Eagle  was  taken  to  the  Chicago  Fair—  opened 
May  30th,  with  military  ceremonies  —  under  the 
auspices  of  the  State,  together  with  the  flags  and  other 
relics  and  trophies,  entrusted  to  the  superintendence  of 
J.  H.  McFarland,  State  Armorer,  and  to  John  F.  Hillr 
as  assistant.  His  place  was  in  the  "  Eagle  Department," 
central  amid  the  paraphernalia  of  war  from  all  parts  of 
the  country  —  amid  the  vast  specimens  of  agricultural, 
mineral,  commercial  and  artistic  wealth  of  the  nation— 
amid  a  world  of  beauty,  intellect  and  patriotism.  Every 
body  went  to  see  this  famous  bird.  Prices  for  his  quills 
or  feathers  rose  as  high  as  five  dollars  each,  but  the  de 
mand  could  seldom  be  supplied.  Not  a  feather  was  al 
lowed  to  be  plucked  from  his  beautiful  plumage  —  not 


96  OLD   ABE. 

for  any  price.  A  rich  capitalist  remarked  that  he  would 
"  give  $10,000  for  that  Eagle  ; "  and  Mr.  Wood,  of  the 
Chicago  Museum,  was  authorized  by  P.  T.  Barnum  to 
give  $20,000  ;  but,  of  course,  the  proposition  to  Gov. 
Lewis  was  only  laughed  at.  Statesmen,  poets,  editors, 
warriors,  men  and  women  of  all  professions  paid  him 
their  compliments,  and,  among  them,  Generals  Grant 
and  Sherman,  who  remarked  that  they  had  seen  "  Old 
Abe"  at  different  times  and  places  while  connected 
with  their  armies,  mentioning  specially  "Mississippi 
Rock  and  Raymond,  Miss.,  where  we  had  a  brush  with 
the  enemy." 

"OLD  ABE'S"  KEPKOOF  TO  GEN.  SHERMAN. 

While  Gen.  Sherman  was  addressing  the  people,  one 
day,  in  the  main  room  of  the  Exposition  Building,  fired 
to  enthusiasm  over  the  victory  of  our  arms,  mentioning 
the  emblems  of  the  nation  around  him,  and  among 
them  the  Eagle,  he  precipitately  put  out  his  hand  to 
stroke  the  plumage  of  our  hero,  when  he  wheeled  upon 
his  perch  with  a  savage  screech  at  the  General,  his  white 
feathers  ruffled,  trying  to  fight  him  for  such  presump 
tion.  The  vast  audience  roared  with  laughter,  when 
the  orator  blushingly  remarked  —  "Beat  this  time!" 
"  Old  Abe  "  would  have  even  victor  generals  understand, 
that  the  plumage  of  the  American  Eagle  is  too  sacred 
to  be  touched  with  careless  hands. 

ARTISTIC   TRIBUTE   TO   OUR  WAR-BIRD. 

Regarding  him  as  a  true  American  specimen,  a  Chi 
cago  sculptor,  Mr.  Yolk,  took  a  bust  of  "  Old  Abe,"  to 


HOME  FAIB.  97 

crown  soldiers'  monuments.     The  following,  first  pub 
lished  in  the  Inter-Ocean,  of  March  25,  is  explanatory: 

"  CHICAGO,  March  23, 1876. 

"  J.  O.  BARKETT,  ESQ.  —  Dear  Sir:  — In  June,  1805,,  'Abe '  was  brought  to 
my  studio,  and  'posed1  on  his  perch  for  a  model  in  clay,  full  size,  of  his 
eagleship.  Think  I  took  six  or  eight  sittings.  I  produced  from  it  a  model  in 
plaster,  with  wings  partly  spread,  and  arranged  to  surmount  a  monumental 
shaft  or  column,  holding  a  flag  in  its  beak,  the  flag  drooping  down  and  cov 
ering  part  of  the  column.  Two  of  these  were  made  in  marble  for  monu 
ments —  one  ordered  by  the  cadets  of  West  Point  for  a  monument  to  a  de 
ceased  comrade,  erected  at  Macomb,  in  this  State;  the  other  for  a  soldiers' 
monument  —  I  forget  where  it  was  erected.  The  model  was  burnt  up  in  the 
great  fire.  When  at  work  on  the  model  of  '  Old  Abe '  I  had  to  keep  a  sharp 
lookout  for  his  beak  and  claws.  When  I  applied  the  callipers  to  measure 
him,  and  would  steal  up  to  him  in  front,  rear  or  flank  as  silently  as  possible, 
when  he  appeared  asleep,  instantly  his  keen  eyes  would  open  with  a  flash; 
sometimes  he  would  snatch  the  callipers  with  his  claws  from  my  hands  and 
drop  them  to  the  floor.  Occasionally  he  would  give  me  a  dig  with  his  sharp 
claws  and  take  a  piece  of  skin  from  my  hand  with  his  needle-pointed  beak. 
Sometimes  with  a  shrill  screech  he  would  try  and  break  away  from  his  fasten 
ings,  floundering  about  with  his  powerful  wings,  which  would  of  course 
raise  a  dust  and  knock  things  about  the  studio  generally,  especially  during 
the  absence  of  his  keeper.  I  think  he  was  heartily  glad  when  the  sittings 
terminated,  as  he  did  not  appear  to  relish  the  confinement,  nor  did  he  evince 
a  very  high  resrard  for  spread-eagle  art.  But  he  was  a  splendid  old  bird,  and 
behaved  himself  quite  as  well  as  some  other  two-legged  sitters  who  have 
honored  my  studio.  I  may  add  that  his  great  namesake  sat  to  me  for  his 
bust  in  1860.  Very  respectfully  yours,  LEONAKD  W.  VOLK." 

In  the  Chicago  Tribune  of  June  2,  1865,  B.  F.  Taylor  thus 
word-paints  "  Old  Abe  "  in  the  alcove: 

"  And  there,  the  bird  of  our  banner  holds  grand  levee  from  day  to  day,  his 
white  crest  like  the  snowy  plume  of  Henry  of  Navarre,  that  eye  upon  you 
that  can  look  undazzled  on  the  sun.  The  Eagle  of  Chippevva  —  the  children 
have  plucked  the  bird  out  of  the  old  flag  and  have  set  him  living  at  the  head 
of  their  legions.  We  bare  our  brow  to  him,  the  grandest  contributor  to  the 
Fair,  and  we  leave  the  strangely  assorted  group  to  the  reader:  the  tattered, 
bloody  colors  yonder,  and  then  the  little  shoe-maker  that  has  a  heart  in  it, 
and  the  Eagle  that  ought  to  have  a  soul  to  be  saved  — harmonious  workers 
in  mercy's  sweet  rivalry." 

MILWAUKEE  SOLDIERS1   HOME  FAIB. 

Milwaukee    had    been    a   home    for    the    sick  and 
7 


98  OLD   ABE. 

wounded  soldiers;  during  the  year  ending  Apr.  15, 1865, 
in  one  single  building  on  West  Water  St.  were  enter 
tained  8,000  soldiers,  representing  different  parts  of  the 
country;  having  a  reputation  for  patriotism  and  charity, 
and  the  object  being  so  noble,  to  venture  was  to  succeed 
in  building  a  permanent  "Soldiers'  Home."  Every 
branch  of  business  in  the  State  and  country  at  large  was 
represented.  There  in  magnificent  profusion  were  our 
fine  arts  in  conspicuous  display,  our  educational  interests, 
relics  of  all  the  wars  of  the  nation  and  of  by-gone 
times  of  men  and  deeds  now  historic,  specimens  illus 
trative  of  geological  and  natural  history,  our  State  and 
National  literature  and  patriotism.  But  a  short  time 
prior,  Lincoln  had  been  martyred,  and  anything  associ 
ated  with  his  memory  was  of  peculiar  attraction,  even 
to  the  "assassination  flags"  —  the  one  that  caught 
Booth's  spur  and  the  one  the  President  seized  when 
shot.  As  the  Wisconsin  War-Eagle  bore  his  u  Yankee 
Name,"  and  was  renowned  for  his  military  exploits,  he 
was,  as  ever  before,  the  central  figure  in  that  vast  array 
of  wealth  and  grandeur.  His  position  was  outside  the 
massive  main  building,  on  Huron  St.,  in  a  large  tent, 
entitled  "  Tangled  Feature,"  superintended  by  Mr.  Mc- 
Cracken,  but  placed  under  the  special  charge  of  John  F. 
Hill,  who  brought  him  from  Chicago.  In  the  center  of 
this  tent  were  extensive  evergreen  rings,  rising  one 
above  another,  and  at  the  topmost  was  a  pretty  circular 
platform  whereon  the  Eagle  sat,  "  monarch  of  all  I  sur 
vey,"  for  below  him  were  mud-turtles,  peacocks,  Devon 
cows,  sheep,  cranes,  hawks,  owls,  rabbits,  foxes,  badgers, 
doves,  a  bloodhound,  a  bear,  a  coon  which  the  12th  Wis. 


OLD  ABE'S  PICTURES.  99 

Battery  had  in  the  war,  and  afterwards  gave  to  the 
State,  and  "four  other  eagles,  on  their  several  perches,  of 
different  species,"  said  the  Sentinel  of  June  30,  "  called 
respectively  '  Old  Abe,'  the  famous  battle  Eagle  of  the 
8th  Wis.,  'Gen.  Grant,'  'Phil.  Sheridan'  and  'Gen. 
McClellan.'  "  But  "Abe  "  had  the  uppermost  seat  of 
honor.  The  Home  Fair  Journal  thus  describes  this 
of  twenty-five  battles: 


"  Beneath  a  canopy  of  green,  sits  the  Veteran  Eagle,  *  Old  Abe,' 
the  bird  that  for  three  long  years  was  the  companion  of  the  gal 
lant  boys  of  the  Eighth  Wisconsin  Regiment,  marching  and 
camping  and  going  into  battle  with  them;  and  when  the  battle 
grew  hot,  and  threatened  death  to  all,  leaving  his  perch,  and 
soaring  aloft  with  a  scream  that  rose  above  the  roar  of  battle, 
he  cheered  his  companions  to  victory.  With  an  eye  that  seems 
as  if  it  would  pierce  you  through,  he  calmly  and  with  the  pro- 
foundest  dignity,  surveys  the  visitors,  as  if  he  were  looking 
down  in  pity  upon  them.  There  is  something  grand  in  his 
presence,  and,  as  you  look  upon  him,  you  cannot  but  feel  that 
you  are  looking  upon  an  important  personage;  and  verily  you 
are,  for  has  he  not  been  in  the  service  of  his  country?  and  has 
he  not  contributed  thousands  of  dollars  to  the  relief  of  his  com 
panions  in  arms?  Looking  upon  the  splendid  bird,  we  did  not 
wonder  that  the  eagle  was  chosen  by  the  war-like  and  all-con- 
quering  Romans  a*  their  emblem,  nor,  that  he  was  chosen  by 
the  liberty  -loving  patriots  of  the  Revolution  as  the  emblem  of 
the  new  Republic." 

"OLD  ABE'S"  PICTURES,  AND  THEIR  PROFITS. 

One  of  the  practical  methods  to  raise  money  at  the 
Milwaukee  Soldiers'  Home  Fair  was,  by  the  sale  of  "  Old 
Abe's"  pictures.  In  the  years  to  come,  after  he  has 
"  gone  to  glory,"  these  will  be  of  peculiar  interest  to 
new  generations  that  read  and  ponder  over  our  late  war 


100  OLD   ABE. 

of  rival  civilizations.  Appreciating  this  fact,  a  gentle 
man  in  Kockford,  111.,  lias  carefully  preserved  a  copy 
and  the  history  of  every  picture  thus  far  taken  of  the 
bird;  and  has  arranged  them  in  a  "  Pictorial  Chart  of 
Old  Abe."  His  description  of  them  is  interesting  : 

"  1.  '  Childhood  picture,'  photographed  by  A.  J.  Devor,  in  Eau 
Claire,  summer  of  1861,  certified  to  as  a  correct  likeness  by 
Capt.  V.  Wolf;  heraldic  and  serenely  prophetic  in  look  and 
attitude.  2.  The  bird  wearied  from  unaccustomed  excitement; 
taken  by  J.  S.  Fuller,  in  Madison,  when  the  regiment  was 
sworn  into  service,  Sept.,  1861.  3.  The  '  Cropped  Eagle,'  taken 
by  an  artist  in  the  South.  4.  Lithograph  of  same  for  Dunlop, 
Sewall  and  Spalding,  of  Chicago ;  the  original  photograph  of 
this  *  Soldier  picture'  is  thus  referred  to  by  a  correspondent  of 
the  Milwaukee  Sentinel,  signing  himself '  Tompher,'  dating  his 
letter  at  Big  Black  River,  Miss.,  Oct.  15,  1863:  — 'Old  Abe,  our 
Eagle,  has  recently,  like  everybody  else,  and  because  it  is  a  fash 
ion,  had  his  cart  de  msite  taken,  which,  with  his  biography,  will 
shortly  appear  in  Frank  Leslie's  Illustrated ;  his  friends  will,  of 
course,  excuse  him  if  his  coat  does  look  a  little  rough,  for  he 
has  seen  over  two  years  of  hard  service.  The  picture  includes 
also  the  regimental  colors  with  the  color  guard  in  position 
around  them;  the  flags  are  sadly  torn  and  soiled,  and  show  the 
marks  of  the  affection  of  our  misguided  Southern  brethren  in 
every  told.'  5.  '  Sanitary  picture,'  photographed  by  J.  F.  Boclt- 
ker,  in  Madison,  Apr.,  1865 ;  he  had  '  Old  Abe '  carried  up  to 
the  roof  of  his  gallery  to  obtain  a  quick  light;  just  as  the 
sun-picture  was  taking,  the  free-born  Eagle,  feeling  the  inspira 
tions  of  mountain  heights,  spread  his  wings  and  vaulted  into  the 
sky ;  but  the  sudden  check  to  the  flight  by  means  of  his  cord, 
cast  perch  and  bird  over  the  battlement,  when,  by  great  presence 
of  mind  and  superhuman  eifort,  just  on  the  edge  of  the  building, 
sixty  or  seventy  feet  high,  the  attendant  fortunately  saved  him 
self  and  Eagle  from  a  sudden  death;  carried  thence  into  the 
gallery  rooms,  the  artist  succeeded ;  about  2,300  of  these  were 


THE   OLDEN  LEGEND   VERIFIED.  101 

gold  at  the  Chicago  and  Milwaukee  Fairs.  6.  Lithograph  of 
this  was  made,  same  spring,  by  W.  D.  Baker,  of  Chicago,  for 
A.  L.  Sewall's  'Eagle  Army;'  used  also  to  illustrate  J.  O.  Bar 
rett's  pamphlet  sketch  of  '  Old  Abe; '  many  thousands  sold  in  a 
few  months  over  all  the  country  and  at  the  Chicago  Sanitary  Fair, 
for  the  benefit  of  disabled  soldiers.  7.  Three  photographs  by 
E.  R  Curtis,  in  Madison,  1865,  representing  'Old  Abe'  on  a 
cannon  captured  by  the  14th  Wis.  from  the  enemy  at  the  battle 
of  Pittsburg  Landing,  the  starry  flag  for  a  back  ground;  about 
2,500  of  these  were  sold  by  Mrs.  H.  C.  Crocker  for  the  Soldiers' 
Home  in  Milwaukee.  8.  L.  Lipman,  of  Milwaukee,  litho 
graphed  one  of  these,  and  about  3,000  of  them  were  sold  by  the 
same  lady.  9.  Large  lithograph  for  S.  W.  Martin,  giving  a 
synoptical  history  of  the  bird.  10.  'Eagle-Bearer  picture,'  pho 
tographed  by  J.  Carbutt,  while  John  F.  Hill  had  his  bird  at  the 
great  Sanitary  Fair  in  Chicago;  standing  on  his  war-perch  with 
Mr.  Hill  patronly  guarding  'Old  Abe.'  11.  In  August,  1875,  the 
Wisconsin  View  Company,  of  Portage,  photographed  one,  rep 
resenting  the  bird  on  a  cannon  with  perch  and  flags.  12.  '  Cen 
tennial  photographs,'  taken  by  J.  M.  Fowler,  in  Madison,  Feb.  7, 
1876,  representing  'Old  Abe'  standing  wkh  dignity  upon  his 
beautiful  x  Centennial  Perch  '  —  lately  constructed ;  are  sharp  and 
well  executed;  the  Governor  of  Wisconsin,  H.  Ludington,  certi 
fies  that  'this  picture  is  a  correct  likeness  of  '  Old  Abe,'  the  live 
War-Eagle.'  " 

THE   OLDEN"  LEGEND  VERIFIED. 

The  Eagle's  feathers  and  quills  —  "  precious  as  locks 
of  hair  "  — have  been  in  as  great  demand  as  his  pictures. 
People  from  England,  Scotland  and  France,  many  Con 
federate  soldiers  and  ladies  of  the  South,  and  patriots  in 
all  parts  of  the  Union,  having  them,  seem  to  think  the 
olden  legend  is  true,  that  "  they  condem  all  other  quills 
which  lie  near  them."  Here  is  a  clipping  from  a  pri 
vate  letter  of  a  soldier  to  his  sister,  signing  himself  "  A. 


102  OLD   ABE. 

T.,"  dating  it  "  Hamburg,  four  miles  above  Pittsburg 
Landing,  Tenn.,  April  16, 1863."  After  mentioning  sev 
eral  relics  of  the  war  for  preservation,  he  says: 

"  In  my  miniature  case  you  will  find  some  Confederate  scrip ; 
there  is  also  a  quill  from  our  Eagle,  which  Capt.  Perkins  gave 
me  last  evening ;  the  Eagle  is  flourishing  finely." 

During  the  Milwaukee  Fair,  some  reserved  feathers 
and  quills  of  the  Eagle  were  presented  to  a  few  person 
ages  of  note.  The  Superintendent  of  "  Tangled  Fea 
ture,"  having  a  quill  from  his  wing,  presented  it  to  Mrs. 
G.  P.  Hewitt,  then  President  of  the  "Home,1'  with  the 
happy  remark,  ;'You  are  deserving  of  this."  This 
lady  cherishes  it  as  very  precious,  as  it  ever  recalls  those 
days  of  sacrifice,  and  like  a  magic  wand  "  opens  the 
wounds  we  seem  reluctant  to  heal."  Another  was  offi 
cially  presented  by  the  ladies  to  Gen.  B.  F.  Butler, 
(subsequently  a  trustee  of  the  "  Home  "  after  its  transfer 
to  the  United  States)  with  this  pleasantry  of  address,  "  as 
it  is  from  the  wing  of  the  Wisconsin  War-Eagle,  it  will 
remind  you  of  our  esteem  for  your  patriotic  services  in  a 
perilous  hour  of  our  nation."  If  there  be  a  reckoning- 
day  for  this  life's  stewardship  in  the  world  to  come, 
"  Old  Abe  "  —  for  he  has  a  soul  —  will  be  largely  credit 
ed  on  sales  of  pictures,  biographies,  feathers  and  tickets 
of  admission  to  his  kingly  presence,  in  that  net  gain  of 
of  $105,000  at  this  Fair,  given  to  the  "  Branch  Home  of 
the  National  Asylum  for  Volunteer  Soldiers,  established 
at  Milwaukee,"  munificently  endowed  by  the  United 
States  Government,  and  by  Wisconsin  to  the  amount  of 
$5,000. 


DEFENDING  HIS  FEATHERS.  103 

DEFENDING  HIS  FEATHERS. 

In  certain  moods  "  Abe  "  would  even  fight  the  man  who 
presumed  to  carry  off  one  of  his  feathers.  W.  W.  Bar 
rett  thus  describes  an  experience  in  Madison,  during 
one  of  his  visits  to  the  bird: 

"  In  company  with  Geo.  W.  Baker,  then  the  Eagle's  attendant 
(1875),  I  called  to  see  '  Old  Abe.'  He  was  engaged  in  eating  his 
breakiast,  which  consisted  of  a  rabbit  fresh  from  the  woods. 
When  we  made  our  appearance,  the  considerate  bird  suspended 
operations  and  gave  his  attention  to  Mr.  Baker's  salutation  of 
'  Good  Morning,  Abe,'  which  he  answered  with  a  peculiar  shrill 
voice.  Presently  my  attention  was  drawn  to  a  white  downy 
feather  falling  from  the  body  of  the  Eagle,  about  six  feet  distant. 
Wishing  to  preserve  it  for  my  cabinet  of  curiosities,  I  proceeded 
to  pick  it  up  ;  but '  Old  Abe  '  was  ready  to  protect  his  own  prop 
erty,  even  to  the  least  feather,  and,  with  flashing  eyes  and  angry 
look,  he  instantly  flew  at  me  with  perfect  fury,  striking  hard  with 
his  strong,  powerful  wings,  making  an  effort  to  disentangle  his 
claws  from  their  fastenings  in  the  rabbit,  whose  weight,  fortu 
nately  for  me,  brought  the  Eagle  to  the  floor,  and  I  escaped  the 
dangerous  charge.  Then  the  enfuriated  fellow  mounted  a  tall 
saw-horse,  and  there  with  fierce  grips  he  jumped  and  leaped 
about,  bristling  up  his  feathers,  throwing  out  his  wings,  and  ex 
pressing  his  anger  by  frequent  and  loud  screechiugs.  Thus  he 
continned  for  sometime,  indicating  he  was  ready  for  battle  with 
any  foe.  We  stood  at  a  respectful  distance,  '  for,'  Mr.  Baker  said, 
'his  grips  are  painful  and  hard  to  remove  when  he  has  taken 
hold  of  the  flesh."  Finally,  at  the  suggestion  of  Mr.  Baker,  I 
seized  a  broom  near  at  hand,  when  his  attendant  ordered  him  in 
to  his  own  room,  but  he  was  defiant  and  screamed,  determined  to 
disobey.  Seeing  me  armed,  and  Mr.  Baker  resolute,  he  reluct 
antly  walked  into  his  own  apartment,  mounted  his  perch,  and 
was  locked  in  a  '  prisoner  of  war.'  " 

But  u  Old  Abe  "  is  generous  when  his  mood  inspires  it. 


104:  OLD   ABE. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  0.  Culver,  of  Madison,  relate  an  incident 
of  their  innocent  little  boys  that  is  peculiarly  beautiful. 
Willie  and  Paul,  then  eight  and  four  years  old,  were 
one  day,  in  the  summer  of  1869,  looking  at  the  bird 
while  in  the  Capitol  Park,  when  Paul  picked  up  a 
feather  of  his  lying  on  the  ground,  and  Willie,  noticing 
its  shining  luster,  exclaimed,  "  I  wish  '  Old  Abe '  would 
give  me  a  feather."  Curious  as  it  may  seem,  the  intel 
ligent  bird — whether  by  accident  or  design,  let  the 
reader  say — instantly  pulled  out  a  feather  from  his 
breast  with  his  beak,  and  away  it  sped,  waving  and 
dancing  on  the  wind,  intently  watched  by  the  boys, 
who  at  last  secured  it  as  it  fell  on  the  other  side  of  the 
Park. 

SOLDIEKS  A^D    SAILORS'  CONVE^TIOl*  AT  PITTSBURGH 

Our  famous  bird  has  also  been  "  round  the  circle,"  on 
great  occasions  of  public  interest  relating  to  the  gov 
ernment,  especially  at  military  reviews  and  conventions. 
It  will  be  recollected,  that  immediately  following  the 
surrender  of  the  Confederate  army  in  1865,  new  and  in 
tricate  perils  menaced  the  country  on  every  hand,  most 
difficult  to  adjust  to  the  satisfaction  of  North  and 
South.  Indeed  it  was  the  darkest  hour  of  the  Rebel 
lion;  for  President  Andy  Johnson  and  Congress  were 
antagonistic  as  to  measures  of  reconstruction.  Under 
these  national  troubles,  a  mass  gathering  of  the  patri 
otic  people,  entitled  the  "  Soldiers  and  Sailors'  Conven 
tion,"  was  called  to  meet  in  the  city  of  Pittsburg,  Pa., 
on  the  25th  and  26th  of  September,  1866,  with  a  view 
to  "  sustain  the  measures  adopted  by  Congress  for  the 


CONTENTION"  AT  PITTSBURG.  105 

restoration  of  the  Union.1'  It  was  one  of  the  most 
magnificent  outbursts  of  popular  feeling  ever  mani 
fested  in  the  history  of  our  country,  and  combined  the 
most  versatile  array  of  talent  and  military  prestige. 
There  were  representatives  from  all  the  Northern  States 
and  some  of  the  Southern  —  the  Great  West  preponder 
ating  in  numbers  —  and  among  them  were  Gens.  Cox, 
Willich,  Schenck,  Leggett  and  Garfield,  of  Ohio;  Gens. 
Butler  and  Banks,  of  Mass.;  Gens.  Allen  and  Bintliff, 
Cols.  Bartlett,  Butterick  and  Goodwin,  and  Capt.  Lang- 
worthy,  of  Wis.;  Col.  A.  D.  Straight,  of  Indiana,  of  An 
derson  ville  Prison  renown;  Gens.  Gerry  and  Negley, 
and  Gov.  Curtin,  of  Pa.;  Gen.  Sigel,  of  Maryland;  Gen. 
Sprague,of  R.  L;  Gen. Farnsworth, of  111.;  Gens.  Coch- 
rane,  Barnum,  Barlow,  Hawkins,  Gregg  and  Martindale, 
of  New  York;  Gens.  Terry  and  Hawley,  of  Conn. ;  Gens. 
Baxter  and  Allen,  of  Mich.;  and,  sitting  side  by  side 
with  them  on  the  platform,  to  indicate  the  demo 
cratic  spirit  of  the  convention^  were  such  privates  as 
L.  Edwin  Dudley,  "  the  patriotic  clerk  of  Washington;" 
Robert  Hendershott,  "  the  Drummer  Boy  of  the  Rappa- 
hannock;"  John  Burns,  "the  heroic  volunteer  of  Get 
tysburg,  who  fought  in  defense  of  his  own  home,"  and 
Serg.  Geo.  Robinson,  of  Maine,  who  saved  the  life  of 
Secretary  Seward  on  the  night  of  the  assassination  of 
President  Lincoln.  * 

It  was  also  fitting  that  our  War-Eagle  should  repre 
sent  Wisconsin  at  that  convention.  Under  the  escort 
of  his  favorite  friend,  Capt.  McDonald,  he  had  a  con 
stant  ovation  on  the  way  thither,  arriving  at  his  desti 
nation  on  the  eve  of  the  24th.  In  that  crowded  city, 


106  OLD   ABE. 

the  celebrated  Eagle  had  safe  quarters  in  a  parlor  of  the 
St.  Charles  Hotel,  with  sixty  or  more  "  other  soldiers  of 
the  war,1'  paying  extra,  of  course,  for  the  special  honor 
of  such  a  room.  The  city  was  gorgeous,  the  excitement 
intense,  the  feeling  resolute  to  defend  the  attitude  of 
Congress.  The  City  Hall,  in  which  the  convention  was 
held,  was  decorated  with  evergreens,  flowers  and  flags; 
between  the  windows  hung  badges  of  twenty-five  army 
corps,  and  on  the  platform  were  the  emblems  of  war 
and  of  peace,  in  the  form  of  white  flags  and  sheaves  of 
wheat.  Over  the  door  of  entrance  was  this  motto  — 
41  There  can  be  no  lasting  j)eace  while  the  flag  of  the  Union 
cannot  wave  unmolested  over  the  graves  of  our  fallen  com 
rades." 

The  hall  was  densely  packed;  in  one  of  the  aisles 
stood  delegates  from  a  neighborhood  sixty  strong, 
every  one  of  whom  had  been  wounded  in  the  service, 
and  had  their  colors  riddled.  The  jam  of  people  was 
so  great  at  the  door,  Capt.  McDonald  found  it  impossi 
ble  to  advance  with  his  Eagle;  but  just  as  Gen.  B.  F. 
Butler  commenced  speaking  on  his  own  resolution,  at 
this  first  session  of  the  convention,  the  chairman,  Gen. 
J.  D.  Cox,  interrupting,  requested  him  to  pause  a  mo 
ment,  shouting  with  a  loud  voice  —  "  Here  comes  4  Old 
Abe,'  the  veteran  War-Eagle  of  Wisconsin;  please  open 
the  way,  gentlemen,  that  he  may  come  forward."  The 
crowd  defiled  right  and  left,  and  as  the  captain  walked 
up  the  aisle  with  that  monarch  bird  so  majestic  on  his 
perch,  the  vast  audience  spontaneously  rose  and  cheered 
him  —  once,  twice,  thrice  —  with  a  ring  that  jarred  the 
very  roof,  when  the  Eagle  flapped  his  wings  and  screamed 


TORCH-LIGHT   PROCESSION'.  107 

aloud  his  war-cry  of  battle.     On  motion  of  Gen.  Ham 
lin,  of  Maine,  "  Old  Abe,"  was  assigned  a  position  of 
honor  on  the  platform.     The  Wisconsin  State  Journal 
of  September  27,  speaks  of  the  incident,  by  a  reporter: 

'•  The  moment  quiet  had  been  restored,  an  event  occurred  that 
seemed  to  set  all  wild.  The  'Old  Abe'  Eagle  which  the  8th 
Wisconsin  carried  through  its  service,  was  brought  up  the  aisle, 
perched  on  the  top  of  a  staff;  the  body  rose  and  cheered  him; 
the  band  played,  and  the  kingly  bird  flapped  his  wings  lustily  as 
if  he  recognized  the  old  music,  the  old  cheers,  and  the  old 
flags.  '  Abe  '  was  then  seated  near  the  chairman  on  his  perch 
amid  the  emblems  of  peace,  fully  alive  to  the  scene,  responding 
to  nearly  all  the  cheers,  as  Gen.  Butler  harangued  the  people,  by 
flapping  his  wings." 

TORCH-LIGHT  PROCESSION". 

That  evening  of  the  25th  was  improved  by  a  torch 
light  procession  cf  five  miles  long,  Gen.  Negley  chief 
marshal,  fifteen  thousand  persons  moving  in  it,  the  sol 
diers  carrying  torch-lights,  others  insignia  of  war  and 
peace."  "The  streets,1'  said  the  Wisconsin  Journal 
of  the  27th,  "  were  ablaze  and  filled  for  miles  with 
people.  Such  popular  enthusiasm  has  seldom  been 
equalled.  The  city  was  one  glorious  illumination  of 
blazing  banners  and  sentiments  steeped  in  fire.  There 
was  an  unsurpassed  display  of  beautiful  designs,  and 
models  in  brilliant  lights  in  moving  lines."  First  came 
the  "  Boys  in  Blue,"  next  the  Fire  Department,  next 
the  Undine  Boat  Club,  with  the  motto,  "  We  will  pull 
together,"  and  then  "  the  Wisconsin  War-Eagle,"  with 
his  Bearer  and  other  dignitaries,  seated  on  his  perch 
encircled  with  ribbons  of  red,  white  and  blue,  in  an 


108  OLD   ABE. 

open  carriage  drawn  by  four  white  horses;  as  he  passed 
along  through  the  thronged  avenues  of  Pittsburg,  there 
was  a  continuous  tempest  of  cheers  and  shouts,  and  ex 
clamations  —  "  Here  he  comes!  "  when  showers  of  flow 
ers  would  be  thrown  into  his  carriage  literally  loading 
it  down,  while  he,  unspoiled  by  such  adulations,  kept  his 
grave  dignity  like  a  white-headed  sire  of  the  Revolution, 
amid  a  profusion  of  patriotic  mottoes,  and  the  devoirs 
of  the  enraptured  multitude. 

SOLDIERS'  MOJTUMENT,  PEORIA,  ILL. 

.  It  was  dedicated  October  11,  1866.  Thirty  to  forty 
thousand  persons  were  present,  largely  represented  by 
veterans  of  the  war.  The  Peoria  Daily  Transcript,  of 
October  12,  says: 

"The  dedication  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument,  yesterday,  drew 
together  by  far  the  largest  crowd  that  Peoria  ever  saw  within 
her  limits.  The  day  was  beautiful ;  a  soft  haze  overspread  the 
sky,  and  a  mellow  tint  of  summer  veiled  the  sun,  putting  the  at 
mosphere  in  that  peculiar  condition  in  which  the  greatest  sound 
is  transmitted.  *  *  In  the  forenoon,  the  streets  about 
the  Court  House  Square  began  to  fill,  and  before  long  the  Peoria 
House  was  surrounded  by  an  excited  throng  hurrahing  for  But 
ler  and  Logan.  "  Old  Abe,"  the  veteran  Eagle  of  the  8th  Wis 
consin  regiment,  was  brought  out  to  the  balcony,  and  was  greeted 
by  the  audience  and  many  of  his  old  companions  in  arms  with 
vociferous  cheers.  The  noble  bird  was  under  the  care  of  Capt. 
A.  R.  McDonald,  State  Armorer  of  Wisconsin,  and  Capt.  A.  G. 
Weissert,  of  the  8th  Wisconsin  Volunteers." 

The  procession,  with  u  Old  Abe "  for  high  honors, 
was  most  imposing.  The  monument,  with  names  of 
the  heroic  dead  thus  perpetuated,  was  covered  with 
evergreens,  wreaths  and  flowers  up  the  white  shaft  and 


BUILDING  AN  ORPHANS'  HOME.  109 

over  the  eagle  crowning  its  top.  "  Old  Abe  "  was  car 
ried  to  the  speakers1  stand  within  those  now  sacred 
grounds,  where  he  was  greeted  by  long  continued  cheer 
ing.  The  speeches  of  Generals  B.  F.  Butler,  John  A. 
Logan  and  R.  G.  Ingersoll,  were  the  more  electrifying 
for  the  presence  of  the  veteran  Eagle,  that  reminded 
them  of  times  now  historic,  as  described  by  Henry 
Howard  Brownell,  Lieut.  U.  S.  Navy,  in  his  "War- 
Lyrics,"  wherein  he  rapturously  pictures  the  magnifi 
cence  of  "The  Eagle  at  Corinth"  : 

"'Tis  many  a  stormy  day 

Since,  out  of  the  cold,  bleak  North, 
Our  great  War-Eagle  sailed  forth 
To  swoop  o'er  battle  and  fray. 
Many  and  many  a  day 

O'er  charge  and  storm  hath  he  wheeled, 
Foray  and  foughten  field, 

Tramp,  and  volley  and  rattle!  — 
Over  crimson  trench  and  turf, 
Over  climbing  clouds  of  surf, 
Through  tempest  and  cannon-rack, 
Have  his  terrible  pinions  whirled  — 
(A  thousand  fields  of  battle  1 
A  million  leagues  of  foam!) 
But  our  Bird  shall  yet  come  back, 

He  shall  soar  to  his  Eyrie-Home  — 
And  his  thunderous  wing  be  furled, 
In  the  gaze  of  a  gladdened  world, 
On  the  Nation's  loftiest  Dome! " 

BUILDING  AN  ORPHANS'  HOME. 

Through  the  long  and  praiseworthy  efforts  of  Mrs.  C. 
A-  P.  Harvey,  wife  of  the  lamented  Governor  who  was 
drowned  while  on  a  mission  of  mercy,  a  Soldiers'  Or- 


110  OLD   ABE. 

phans'  Home  was  established  at  Madison,  designed  for 
the  orphans  of  fallen  soldiers  ;  and  "  Old  Abe,"  of 
course,  as  in  other  benevolent  enterprises,  must  help 
build  it.  At  the  State  Fair,  held  in  Janesville,  Sept. 
25,  1865,  a  tent  was  erected  in  which  "  Old  Abe,"  borne 
by  Wm.  J.  Jones,  was  exhibited  under  the  management 
of  Mrs.  Harvey,  earning,  with  other  aids,  $427.  Up  to 
this  date,  this  "  Eagle-Benefactor "  had  gained  about 
$25,000  for  soldiers  and  their  orphans. 

SOLDIERS   AND   SAILORS1   CONVENTIOIS'  AT   CHICAGO. 

On  the  19th  of  May,  1868,  a  "  Soldiers  and  Sailors7 
Convention  "  was  held  in  Chicago,  represented  by  all 
the  States  of  the  North  and  some  of  the  South,  Gen. 
Lucius  Fairchild,  of  Wisconsin,  chairman;  followed 
the  next  day  by  the  National  Republican  Convention, 
with  Carl  Schurz  for  chairman,  which  nominated  U.  S. 
Grant  for  President  of  the  United  States.  The  Wiscon 
sin  State  Journal,  of  May  20,  says: 

"The  Soldiers  and  Sailors'  Convention  was  largely  attended. 
Formed  procession  at  11  A.  M.,  and  marched  to  Turner  Hall. 
The  procession  was  headed  by  the  Wisconsin  delegation,  who 
carried  '  Old  Abe,'  the  War-Eagle,  in  the  van.  The  flags  of  the 
Wisconsin  delegation  were  borne  to  the  front  by  Gen.  J.  M.  Rusk 
and  Hon.  M.  H.  Sessions.  The  procession  was  three-quarters  of 
a  mile  in  length  and  four  soldiers  deep.  The  streets  along  the 
entire  route  were  thronged  with  people.  The  march  was  full 
of  life  and  incident;  the  line  joining  in  singing  their  old  battle- 
songs  as  in  the  Southern  marches.  Upon  entering  the  hall,  the 
s*.!ene  was  one  of  wildest  enthusiasm,  cheer  on  cheer  being  given 
for  the  portrait  of  Grant  which  hung  over  the  platform,  the  bust 
of  Lincoln  which  stood  upon  the  rostrum,  and  for 'Old  Abe,' 
the  War-Eagle,  who  was  fastened  upon  his  perch  in  front  of  the 
platform." 


Ill 

A  reporter  of  a  Chicago  paper,  speaking  of  the  same 
convention,  says  : 

*  *  "And  when  the  resolution  proposing  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant 
as  candidate  for  the  Presidency  was  passed,  as  the  vast  multi 
tude  rose  and  cheered,  and  the  band  struck  up  'Hail  to  the 
Chief,'  'Old  Abe,'  as  if  understanding  it  all,  stretched  high  his 
proud  form  and  repeatedly  flapped  his  wings  in  approbation  of 
the  nomination." 

SOLDIERS'  REUNIONS. 

"  Old  Abe's  "  presence  at  all  western  military  gather 
ings  is  as  essential  as  the  old  flag.  The  soldiers  of  Wis 
consin  met  in  Milwaukee,  Sept.  27th  and  28th,  1870, 
Gov.  Fairchild  presiding  over  the  convention,  liberally 
represented  by  "  veterans  who  bore  the  battle  flags  they 
fought  under,  many  of  them  torn  into  shreds  by  the 
storms  of  lead  through  which  they  had  passed,  but 
esteemed  more  highly  on  that  account." 

"  Gen.  H.  E.  Paine  "  [in  whose  valiant  army  "  Old  Abe  "  at 
one  time  served],  says  the  Milwaukee  Sentinel  of  the  2Gth, 
"was  introduced,  and,  in  very  eloquent  words,  welcomed  his  old 
comrades,  all  soldiers  of  Wisconsin  and  other  States,  who  fought 
so  nobly  in  the  late  war  against  rebellion.  Gov.  Fairchild  was 
called  for,  and  spoke  a  cordial  word  to  his  old  comrades.  Gen. 
Hobart  then  addressed  the  meeting;  but  before  doing  so.  he 
introduced  one  of  the  most  distinguished  personages  of  the  late 
war  — 'Old  Abe.'  The  Eagle  was  then  brought  out,  amid  great 
applause." 

A  poem  was  read  by  Col.  Chas.  H.  Clark,  one  verse  of 
which,  alluding  to  "Abe,"  is  as  follows: 

"Our  Eagle's  high  behest 
To  crown  our  banner's  crest  — 
Our  standard  true  — 


112  OLD   ABE. 

Unfurl  it  to  the  breeze 
From  mast  bead  on  seas  — 
Guard  of  our  liberties  — 
Red,  white  and  blue." 

"At  the  close  of  this  reading,"  says  the  Milwaukee 
Sentinel  of  the  28th,  "  '  Old  Abe,1  the  War-Eagle,  was 
brought  upon  the  stage  by  Capt.  McDonald,  and  was 
received  with  rapturous  applause."  One  of  the  grand 
est  military  demonstrations  ever  known  in  the  State, 
was  given  the  next  day  on  the  fair  grounds;  address 
by  Hon.  Matt.  H.  Carpenter.  The  Eagle,  acting  his 
part  of  heraldry,  was  there,  the  admired  of  thirty  thous 
and  people. 

At  a  subsequent  Reunion  in  Milwaukee  (1875),  after 
hours  of  military  parade  through  the  streets,  in  a  cold 
rain,  the  feathers  almost  freezing,  "Abe"  got  chilled 
and  had  to  abandon  the  post  of  honor.  Immediately 
carried  home  to  Madison,  he  was  soon  restored  to  health. 
In  the  spring  prior  to  this  event,  he  was  so  sick  he 
could  not  stand  up,  but  rolled  over  and  drooped,  as  if 
about  to  enter  the  paradise  in  store  for  all  patriotic 
eagles.  Hugh  Lewis,  his  attendant,  took  him  into  the 
office  of  the  Superintendent  of  Public  Property,  blan 
keted  him,  poured  medicated  water  down  his  throat, 
nursed  him  with  devoted  vigilance,  and,  in  three  days,  he 
was  on  his  perch  again  as  good  as  new.  The  longevity 
of  an  eagle  is  remarkable,  sometimes  living,  it  is  said,  a 
hundred  years.  If  "Abe"  could  be  more  free  in  his 
selection  of  food  and  toughened  to  storms  and  tempests, 
he  might  live  when  empires  rise  and  fall.  Warring 
against  the  enemies  of  his  country  is  his  best  regimen 


SOLDIERS'  REinaoxs.  113 


of  health.     Wilson,  the  Ornithologist,  speaking  of  the 
longevity  of  an  eagle,  draws  this  happy  moral: 

"  It  has  not,  like  men,  invented  rich  wines,  ardent  spirits  and  a 
thousand  artificial  poisons,  in  the  form  of  soups,  sauces  and 
sweetmeats.  Its  food  is  simple,  indulges  freely,  uses  great  exer 
cise,  breathes  the  purest  air,  is  healthy,  vigorous  and  long  lived. 
The  lords  of  creation  themselves  might  derive  some  useful  hints 
from  these  facts,  were  they  not  already,  in  general,  too  wise,  or 
too  proud,  to  learn  from  their  inferiors,  the  fowls  of  the  air  and 
the  beaflts  of  the  field." 

Again,  to  keep  alive  the  spirit  of  '61,  "Old  Abe," 
borne  by  Capt.  McDonald,  was  carried  to  Soldiers'  Re 
unions  in  such  Wisconsin  cities  as  Fond  du  Lac,  Bur 
lington,  Elkhorn,  Evansville  and  La  Crosse.  The  Army 
of  the  Tennessee  —  "  Old  Abe  "fought  in  that,  when 
that  now  consecrated  river  was  made  the  "Pass  of 
Thermopylae."  Its  sixth  annual  Reunion  was  held  in 
Madison,  July  3d  and  4th,  1870.  Among  the  notabilities 
of  the  20,000  people  there  gathered,  were  Generals  Pope, 
Sheridan,  Atwood,  Washburn,  Slack,  of  Indiana,  Noyes, 
of  Ohio,  and  Gen.  "  Old  Abe,1'  of  Wisconsin,  with 

"The  colors,  ragg'd  in  a  hundred  fights, 
And  the  dusty  Frocks  of  Blue." 

At  a  Reunion  of  company  K,  in  Racine,  August  31, 
1871,  he  greeted  his  old  "  soldier  boys  "  again,  with  a 
special  recognition  to  Col.  James  0.  Bartlett,  who  led 
the  gallant  Eighth  in  some  of  its  hardest  battles.  He 
was  in  Neillsville,  Oct.  9,  1871,  where  were  represented 
fifty-two  military  organizations,  himself  the  personation 
of  valorous  dignity,  "  as  the  American  bird  ought  to  be 
on  such  occasions,"  says  the  Clark  County  Republican, 
8 


114  OLD  ABE. 

"  watched  with  the  greatest  interest  and  curiosity  by 
the  immense  crowd."  "  Old  Abe  "  was  also  an  invited 
guest  at  a  Reunion  of  the  valiant  1st  Wisconsin,  in 
Madison,  February  22,  1872,  Gen.  Starkweather  at  the 
head  as  in  the  conflict  of  arms.  He  was  perched  in  the 
arched  doorway  between  the  rooms  (in  Park  Hotel), 
keeping  a  grave  silence  during  the  reading  of  Hon.  A. 
M.  Thomson's  felicitous  poem  and  speech  of  Gen. 
Fairchild.  But  while  Hon.  James  Ross  was  making  a 
ringing  response  to  the  toast,  "  The  Federal  Union  — 
may  wisdom-  cement  what  valor  saved,"  he  joined  in 
the  patriotic  sentiment  vociferously.  The  words  of  L. 
J.  Bates,  in  the  song  entitled  "  *  Old  Abe,1  the  Battle 
Eagle,"  music  by  T.  Martin  Towne,  seemed  to  sing  of 
themselves  at  such  gatherings,  in  remembrance  of  the 
fallen  and  the  surviving  of  the  victor  soldiers: 

"  They  come,  but  the  ranks  are  shrunken  and  thin; 
Oh!  large  be  the  welcome  that  gathers  them  in! 
They  come  with  the  flags  in  the  glad  sunlight, 
A  cloud  of  peace,  that  is  feathery  white; 
And  still  o'er  the  standards  they  bear  on  high, 
There  hovers  the  Eagle  of  Victory — 
Hurrah  for  the  Eagle,  our  bold  battle-Eagle! 
The  terror  of  traitors  and  king  of  the  sky !  " 

GRAND  ARMY  OF  THE  REPUBLIC. 

Since  the  war,  one  of  the  most  enthusiastic  demon 
strations  of  popular  patriotism  ever  known  in  our  coun 
try,  occurred  in  Chicago,  at  the  "  Reunion  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic,"  commencing  on  May  12th  and 
ending  May  14,  1875.  It  was  represented  by  such  per 
sonages  as  Gov.  Hartranft,  of  Pennsylvania,  Gov.  Pinch- 


GRAND   ARMY   OF   THE  REPUBLIC.  115 

back,  of  Louisiana,  Gen.  Phil.  Sheridan,  Gen.  W.  T. 
Sherman,  Gov.  Beveridge,  of  Illinois,  Gen.  Harlow,  Sec 
retary  of  State,  Hon.  Thos.  S.  Bidgeway,  State  Treas 
urer,  of  Illinois;  and,  of  the  Wisconsin  delegation,  were 
Capt.  F.  W.  Oakley,  U.  S.  Marshal,  and  Cols.  Thomas 
Reynolds  and  B.  Hancock;  gentlemen  and  ladies  of  all 
professions  were  there,  indicating  the  deep  gratitude 
the  people  cherish  toward  the  deliverers  of  our  country 
from  the  thraldom  of  oppressive  law  and  institution. 

The  Grand  Pacific  Hotel  was  the  headquarters  of  the 
"  Army  of  the  Republic,"  "  Old  Abe,"  borne  by  Hugh 
Lewis,  occupying  the  office  with  the  rest.  H.  M.  Page, 
reporting  for  the  Madison  State  Journal,  of  May  14th, 
says: 

"  Nothing  evoked  so  much  enthusiasm  as  Wisconsin's  bird  of 
freedom.  He  has  been  the  center  of  attraction  at  the  Pacific 
Hotel,  where  his  perch  was  flanked  by  the  United  States  and 
State  flags,  and  where  veterans  from  different  parts  of  the  coun 
try,  from  Wisconsin,  Iowa,  Minnesota,  Illinois,  Michigan,  Indi 
ana,  Missouri,  West  Virginia,  and  we  know  not  how  many  more 
States,  who  had  known  the  bird  in  the  army,  rallied  around  him 
and  recalled  the  many  fields  on  which  they  had  seen  him  with 
the  Eighth  Wisconsin." 

On  the  13th,  a  procession  was  formed,  and  it  was  esti 
mated  150,000  people  were  packed  together  along  the 
line  of  march,  to  say  nothing  of  the  large  numbers  who 
witnessed  it  from  the  windows.  The  Chicago  Times,  of 
May  14th,  thus  describes  this  pageantry  of  arms: 

"  The  fifth  division  rested  on  West  Washington  street.  In  this 
part  of  the  line  marched  the  Grand  Army  Posts,  Gen.  H.  Hil- 
liard,  the  State  Commander  of  the  Order,  heading  the  procession, 
as  marshal,  with  a  staff  of  ten.  The  Great  Western  Light  Guard 


116  OLD   ABE. 

Band  furnished  the  music.  The  Sterling  City  Guards,  com 
nianded  by  Capt.  J.  W.  R.  Stanbough,  preceded  the  several  Posts 
of  the  Grand  Army.  They  were  followed  by  a  carriage,  con- 
taining  '  Old  Abe,'  the  Veteran  War-Eagle  of  the  Eighth  Wis 
consin,  and  his  escort  consisting  of  Capt.  F.  W.  Oakley,  U.  S. 
Marshal,  Dr.  A.  J.  Ward  and  Hugh  Lewis,  of  the  Iron  Brigade, 
Capt.  A.  R.  McDonald  and  Ex-Mayor  Leitch,  of  Madison,  Wis. 
4  Abe '  was  perched  upon  a  shield,  held  aloft  by  one  of  his 
guards  of  honor,  and  he  was  loudly  cheered  wherever  the 
crowd  caught  sight  of  him.  He  frequently  flapped  his  wings 
and  looked  majestic." 

The  Chicago  Tribune,  of  the  14th,  mentioning  the 
"  grizzly  rain  "  that  fell  in  the  afternoon-  of  the  second 
day's  proceedings,  says: 

"  The  greatest  feature  of  the  procession,  aside  from  the  Vete 
ran  organization,  composed  of  men  who  know  what  it  is  to  be  a 
soldier,  and  whose  tattered  regimental  flags  indicated  the  ser 
vices  they  had  done,  was  the  War-Eagle,  '  Old  Abe,'  a  noted 
leader  of  the  Eighth  Wisconsin;  he  was  the  chief  lion  of  the 
day,  sitting  upon  his  perch  with  immense  dignity,  flapping  his 
wings  and  screaming  like  a  mortal  bird  of  freedom  on  the  now 
obsolete  twenty-dollar  gold  piece." 

As  the  procession  approached  the  Exposition  Build 
ing,  where  the  reception  was  to  be  given  Gov.  Beveridge 
by  a  presentation  of  national  colors,  the  enthusiasm  was 
intensified;  old  veterans,  seeing  the  War  Eagle  in  his 
splended  barouche  with  his  escort,  threw  their  hats  into 
it  and  high  into  the  air,  loudly  cheering,  others  loading 
it  with  flowers,  while  several  ladies,  flying  to  the  car 
riage,  presented  the  Bearer  a  large  wreath  of  beautiful 
roses  set  in  evergreens,  in  the  form  of  a  massive  hoop 
which  was  immediately  put  around  the  perch,  the  Eagle 
sitting  within  it,  scanning  the  balcony  on  which  were 


TABLEAU   OF   OLD  ABE.  117 

assembled  the  civil  and  military  officers,  surrounded  by 
flags  and  festoons  that  covered  the  pillars  and  hung  in 
graceful  folds  from  the  cornices;  and,  as  the  vast  mul 
titude  cheered  and  cheered,  u  Old  Abe  "  responded  by 
his  majestic  art  of  speech,  as  if  really  conscious  of  per 
sonating  the  liberty  for  which  he  and  his  comrades 
fought. 

The  idea  was  unique.  Under  the  leadership  of  Mrs. 
J.  G.  Thorp,  President  of  the  "  Women's  State  Centen 
nial  Executive,"  a  representative  meeting  of  the  Centen 
nial  Clubs  of  the  State  was  called  to  the  capital  to  re 
kindle  the  fires  of  patriotism  by  a  historic  celebration 
of  Independence  Day,  on  the  evening  of  July  5,  1875. 
Her  daughter,  Mrs.  Ole  Bull,  wife  of  the  celebrated 
musician,  was  the  art  designer  of  this  beau  ideal  in  exhi 
bition.  "  It  was  an  ovation,1*  says  the  State  Journal, 
"  of  which  we  might  be  proud  to  speak.  The  Speaker's 
desk  in  the  Assembly  Room  of  the  Capitol  had  been 
transformed  by  artistic  hands  into  a  niche  with  the 
State  Insignia,  before  which  hung  a  mysterious  curtain. 
On  the  opposite  side  of  the  hall,  a  mossy  grotto,  en 
shrining  the  flower  nymphs,  added  its  own  charms  to  the 
scene." 

"  The  Day  we  Celebrate,"  the  personation  of  King 
George's  time  by  Gen.  Geo.  B.  Smith,  the  floral  exuber 
ance,  the  elegant  addresses  of  Hon.  E.  G.  Ryan,  and 
Col.  W.  B.  Slaughter,  the  representative  Gen.  Washing 
ton,  making  his  "  first  visit  to  the  fair  young  widow,  Mrs. 
Custis,  who  with  her  two  children  playing  at  her  feet  is 
surprised  at  his  entrance,"  the  proffer  of  the  services  of 


118  OLD  ABE. 

Gren.  LaFayette  to  Washington  to  help  fight  the  battles 
of  American  liberty,  were  indeed  a  life-drama  of  the  Rev 
olution,  seldom  surpassed  in  beauty  of  personation;  but 
another  scene  eclipsed  it  all.  When  the  curtain  rose, 
there  stood  the  famous  War-Eagle  on  his  perch,  sur 
rounded  by  State  and  National  flags  and  stands  of  arms, 
as  the  living  ideal  of  our  prowess  a  hundred  years  ago. 
Maj.  C.  G.  Mayers,  in  costume  of  Paul  Jones,  which  re 
newed  his  youth,  recited  in  a  very  spirited  manner  the 
following  poem,  by  Lizzie  Doten,  entitled: 

THE    EAGLE    OF    FBEEDOM. 

"  O,  land  of  our  glory,  our  boast  and  our  pride. 
Where  the  brave  and  the  fearless  for  freedom  have  died- 
How  clear  is  the  lustre  that  beams  from  thy  name ! 
How  bright  on  thy  brow  are  the  laurels  of  fame ! 
The  stars  of  thy  Union  still  burn  in  the  sky, 
And  the  scream  of  thine  Eagle  is  heard  from  on  high! 
His  eyrie  is  built  where  no  foe  can  invade, 
Nor  traitors  prevail  with  the  brand  and  the  blade! 

CH.  —  The  Eagle  of  Freedom,  in  danger  and  night, 

Keeps  watch  o'er  our  flag  from  his  star-circled  heigi-4, 
From  mountain  and  valley,  from  hill-top  and  sea, 
Three  cheers  for  the  Eagle,  the  Bird  of  the  Free ! 

Hurrah !     Hurrah ! 
Hurrah  for  the  Eagle,  the  Bird  of  the  Free ! 

Mount  up,  O  thou  Eagle!  and  rend  in  thy  flight 

The  war-cloud  that  hides  our  broad  banner  from  sight! 

Guard,  guard  it  from  danger,  though  war-rent  and  worn, 

And  see  that  no  star  from  its  azure  is  torn! 

Keep  thy  breast  to  the  storm,  and  thine  eye  on  the  sun, 

Till,  true  to  our  motto,  THE  MANY  ABE  ONE! 

Till  the  red  rage  of  war  with  its'tunnit  shall  cease, 

And  the  dove  shall  return  with  the  olive  of  peace. 

—  CHORUS. 


OLD  ABE  Itf  A  DANCE.  119 

O,  sons  of  the  mighty,  the  true  and  the  brave, 

The  souls  of  your  heroes  rest  not  in  their  grave ; 

The  holy  libation  to  Liberty  poured, 

Hath  streamed,  not  in  vain,  from  the  blood-crimsoned  sword. 

Henceforth  with  your  Star  Spangled  Banner  unfurled, 

Your  might  shall  be  felt  to  the  ends  of  the  world, 

And  rising  Republics,  like  nebulae  gleam, 

Wherever  the  stars  of  your  nation  shall  beam. 

CH.  —  The  Eagle  of  Freedom,  sublime  in  his  flight, 

Shall  rest  on  your  banner,  encircled  with  light; 

And  then  shall  the  chorus,  in  unison  be, 

Three  cheers  for  the  Eagle,  the  Bird  of  the  Free! 

Hurrah !     Hurrah ! 
Hurrah  for  the  Eagle,  the  Bird  of  the  Free! " 

"  Old  Abe "  modestly  listened  to  the  recital  of  this 
poem,  as  if  conscious  of  the  scrutiny  of  that  refined 
audience.  This  uncommon  mood  of  the  bird  is  thus 
described  by  two  lady  Secretaries  of  the  Centennial, 
Mrs.  J.  D.  Butler  .and  Mrs.  B.  W.  Jones,  in  their 
authorized  report  of  the  Exhibition,  as  given  in  the 
Slate  Journal  of  July  7: 

"Our  grand  'Old  Abe,'  the  winged  veteran  of  many  a  battle 
field,  mounted  on  his  perch,  stood  in  the  most  dignified  manner 
during  Col.  C.  G.  Mayers'  poetical  address;  and,  though  he 
could  gaze  at  the  sun  and  brave  the  roar  of  the  cannon,  he 
drooped  his  head  as  if  scarcely  worthy  of  the  Colonel's  eulogy." 

"  OLD   ABE  "   IN  A  DANCE  ! 

Why  not  ?  He  is  a  United  States  citizen,  and  so  en 
titled  to  all  its  social  amenities.  Under  the  auspices  of 
the  "  Women's  Centennial,"  "  Mr.  Eagle,"  of  the  Eighth 
Wisconsin,  received  a  card  of  invitation  to  attend  a 
"Legislative  Leap  Year  Party,"  in  the  Assembly  Cham- 


120  OLD   ABE. 

bers,  on  the  eve  of  February  17,  1876.  The  Terpsi- 
diorean  drama  opened  with  the  Marseillaise  Hymn,  by 
Mrs.  H.  M.  Page,  who,  attired  in  appropriate  costume, 
appeared  as  the  "  Daughter  of  the  Regiment,"  admira 
bly  singing  and  tapping  her  drum,  with  accompani 
ments  from  Bach's  Band.  The  war-bird,  on  his  "  Cen 
tennial  Perch,"  stood  one  side,  a  little  in  front  of  the 
vivandiere,  listening  with  a  noticeable  dignity,  animated 
most  at  the  sound  of  the  drum  that  recalled  the  reveille 
of  other  days,  and  when  she  closed  singing  the  u  Star 
Spangled  Banner,"  feeling  the  deep  inspiration  of  the 
audience,  he  encored  with  clapping  of  wings.  Not  be 
ing  specially  trained  to  dance,  he  was  excused  further 
military  attentions,  and  retired  to  the  "  Eagle  Depart 
ment." 


History,  song,  art  —  the  legacy  of  our  laureate  Eagle. 
The  last  crowning  excellence  is  a  medallion  for  the 
Women's  Department  of  the  Wisconsin  Centennial,  the 
voluntary  contribution  of  Mrs.  Culver,  of  Madis®n. 
The  following  letter  from  the  gifted  artist,  is  explana 
tory  of  the  beautiful  design: 

"  MADISON,  March  23,  1876. 

"J.  O.  BARRETT,  Esq.  Dear  Sir:  —  In  answer  to  your  in- 
quiries  concerning  the  portrait  of  the  8th  Wis.  Eagle,  which  is 
to  be  painted  for  the  Centennial  Exposition,  I  would  say  that  it 
is  to  be  something  less  than  half  life-size,  on  a  gilt  medallion, 
to  be  framed  in  carved  ebony  and  placed  upon  the  top  of  an 
ebony  cabinet.  This  State  Cabinet  is  to  contain  the  books  and 
music  written  by  the  women  of  Wisconsin,  also  choice  orna 
ments  and  specimens  of  art.  The  panels  in  the  sides  and  doors 


ADVENTURE   OF   AN   EAGLE-BEARER.  121 

of  the  lower  part  are  to  be  decorated  with  flowers,  grasses  and 
vines,  done  in  oil.  The  upper  part  is  open,  the  shelves  are 
irregular,  after  the  Japanese  style,  and  are  surrounded  by  ele 
gant  hand-carving,  executed  by  Mr.  G.  Haug,  of  Milwaukee. 
On  Wednesday,  the  15th  of  March, '  Old  Abe '  honored  me  with 
a  sitting;  he  was  attended  by  his  keeper,  to  whom  he  seems 
greatly  attached.  I  was  astonished  at  the  color  and  expression, 
of  his  eye,  which  forcibly  reminded  me  of  the  description  given 
by  a  countryman,  who  said :  '  The  Eagle  has  a  shrill  eye ! '  and 
at  the  size  and  cruel  strength  of  his  beak,  which  had  the  appear 
ance  of  yellow  ivory.  The  sharp  look  of  inquiry  he  gave  me 
seemed  to  ask,  'what  is  all  this  bother  about,  anyway?'  Fortu 
nately,  for  my  peace  of  mind,  the  niahl-stick  seemed  to  make 
this  king  of  birds  quail.  He  stood  upon  his  standard  with  tho 
the  United  States  shield  beneath  him,  gazing  over  the  waters  of 
Mendota  with  a  far-off  look,  but  a  tap  of  my  brush  on  the  easel 
would  recall  his  thoughts,  and  cause  him  to  turn  his  head 
quickly  in  the  desired  position.  It  was  in  one  of  these  momenta 
of  surprise,  that  I  caught  the  expression  of  his  'shrill'  eye. 
When  nearly  through  with  the  sitting,  the  flag  was  draped  in 
his  talons  over  the  standard ;  the  sight  of  the  '  stars  and  stripes ' 
seemed  to  arouse  old  memories,  and  he  uttered  several  screams 
which  I  thought  might  mean  a  declaration  of  war.  His  keeper 
assured  me,  however,  that  it  was  only  a  feeling  of  joy  that  ani 
mated  him ;  but  as  he  began  to  tear  the  bunting  with  his  great 
beak  in  a  very  decided  manner,  and  as  his  meal  time  was  ap 
proaching,  he  having  fasted  two  or  three  days  as  is  his  custom, 
this  part  of  the  picture  was  rapidly  executed,  and  he  went  oft'  to 
his  dinner  of  rabbit,  which  I  hope  he  enjoyed  as  fully  as  I  did 
my  morning  with  '  Old  Abe.' 

"  Very  Respectfully, 

"  MINNIE  B.  CULVER." 

ADVENTURE   OF   AN  EAGLE  BEARER. 

Among  the  "Chippewa  Eagle  Boys"  is  John  F.  Hill,  brother 
of  Thomas,  both  of  Company  C;  their  father  was  killed  in  the 


122  OLD  ABE. 

battle  of  Petersburg.  John  enlisted  when  he  was  sixteen.  In 
the  battle  of  Corinth,  Hill  was  standing  beside  the  Eagle,  near  Mc- 
Lane;  had  fired  six  times,  and  was  just  putting  on  a  cap  for  an 
other  discharge,  when  a  Miuie  ball  struck  his  right  arm  at  the 
joint  of  the  elbow  and  glanced  off  into  his  side,  passing  clear 
through  him.  He  fell  instantly.  Seeing  this  favorite  boy  lying 
there,  a  soldier  ran  to  Capt.  vVolt  declaring,  "Johny  Hill  is 
killed !  "  "  Never  mind,"  replied  the  Captain, "  we  cannot  attend 
to  dead  men  now."  Soon  after  this,  the  Captain  himself  passed 
the  spot,  looked  at  him,  rolled  him  over,  and  pronounced  him 
dead;  then  with  his  sword  he  hacked  the  bark  of  a  tree  near  by, 
that  he  might  be  more  readily  found  after  the  battle.  Our  army 
fell  back;  the  rebels  advanced,  passing  our  wounded  soldier. 
Four  hours  he  lay  there  weltering  in  his  blood,  the  pulse  of  life 
feebly  beating.  Coming  to  his  consciousness  about  dark,  he 
rose  to  his  feet,  and,  with  a  staggering  gait  started  for  the  Union 
camp,  but  had  not  gone  far  when  he  was  taken  prisoner,  and 
turned  back,  fainting  at  intervals  on  the  way.  By  midnight  he 
had  walked  four  miles  to  the  rebel  hospital,  where  he  was 
obliged  to  lie  out  all  that  rainy  night  under  a  tree.  Some  time 
during  the  darkness,  after  the  rebel  wounded  were  cared  for, 
John  respectfully  entreated  the  Surgeon  to  dress  his  wound. 

"Dress  your  wound?"  replied  the  "Southern  gentlemen," 
"what's  the  use?  You  wont  live  till  morning!  " 

O,  the  painful  hours  —  how  slowly  they  dragged  the  night! 
Three  o'clock  —  four  o'clock  —  six  o'clock  —  morning!  and  yet 
he  lives,  uupitied,  untouched,  save  by  the  sweet  heavens  that 
wept  over  him.  In  due  time  the  Surgeon  went  the  rounds 
among  his  patients,  inquiring  after  their  condition,  and  finding 
John  steaming  in  the  wet,  shouted :  "  Hello,  Yank,  you  are  alive 
yet,  ar'n't  ye  ?  " 

u  Guess  I  am,"  faintly  answered  the  resolute  boy. 

"  Well,  you'll  fag  out  to-day  —  it's  going  to  be hot!  Eat 

that  if  you  want,"  said  the  good  hearted  Surgeon,  throwing  him. 
some  parched  corn. 

About  12  M.,  the  rebels  began  to  retreat,  when  a  cavalry  man 


ADVENTURE   OF  AN  EAGLE-BEARER.  123 

rushed  into  the  hospital,  saying:  "All  that  are  able  to  walk, 
come  with  rne  —  the  Yanks  are  driving  us!  " 

Just  as  the  word  was  spoken,  and  a  portion  had  left,  John  stag 
gered  to  the  same  Surgeon,  and  asked  him  if  he  had  any  objec 
tion  to  his  going  to  Corinth. 

"No! — you  can't  go  a  rod  from  where  you  are  standing,"  an 
swered  the  rebel,  with  an  oath. 

John  now  began  his  snail-like  journey  to  his  friends,  the  blood 
from  his  side  frothing  out  at  every  motion.  Tluvt  morning 
Thomas  (the  brother)  procured  a  spade  and  picaxe,  and  a  head 
board  on  which  he  had  recorded  the  sad  epitaph,  and,  thus 
equipped,  hurried  to  find  the  tree  marked  by  Capt.  Wolf,  there 
expecting  to  bury  the  body  of  his  dead  brother.  Thus  the  two 
boys  were  approaching  each  other,  but  by  different  routes,  not 
far  apart,  however.  At  a  distance,  John  saw  Thomas,  and  spoke 
as  loud  as  he  could  —  "Thomas  !  " 

Tims  interrogated,  Thomas  looked  here  and  there,  and  at  last 
discerned  a  straggler,  but  did  not  at  first  recognize  him.  Again 
John  called,  "Thomas,  it's  me!  " 

Thomas  approached,  and,  when  within  a  few  rods,  recognized 
his  brother,  and  chokingly  articulated:  "  You,  —  John?  John!" 

Imagine  the  happy  meeting — the  dead  alive  again!  John 
leaned  upon  his  brother's  arm,  and  thus  was  helped  into  Corinth, 
where  he  was  tenderly  cared  for  by  our  Surgeon.  When  his 
•wound  was  dressed,  he  fainted,  but  soon  revived.  That  night 
the  Surgeon  gave  orders  to  watch  John,  stating  he  would  prob 
ably  die  before  morning.  It  is  hard  to  kill  a  soldier.  He  re 
covered,  and  is  now  able  to  do  light  work  as  a  worthy  citizen. 
He  remained  in  the  service  another  year,  at  one  time  faithfully 
fulfilling  the  duties  of  the  Adjutant's  Orderly.  As  already  men 
tioned,  John  handsomely  bore  "  Old  Abe,"  for  a  while  during 
"the  soldier  time,"  and  at  the  great  Sanitary  Fairs  of  Chicago 
and  Milwaukee,  in  1805.  By  appointment  of  Gov.  Ludington 
he  now  lias  the  honor  of  bearing  the  proud  bird  to  the  Centen 
nial,  as 

"  A  type  of  the  eons  of  Liberty." 


124  OLD   ABE. 

1876! 

The  Centennial  of  America,  the  test  of  democratic 
government  for  a  hundred  years;  what  a  convocation  of 
peoples  from  all  the  earth;  what  a  reminiscence  of  valor; 
what  a  pledge  of  National  faith!  The  war  is  over; 
brothers  that  fought  each  other  meet  again,  hand  to 
hand,  unarmed,  heart  in  the  hand,  and  a  grand  cheer 
for  freedom.  Our  tears  commingle  over  the  graves  of 
the  "  Blue  and  the  Gray;"  our  spears  cross  there  in  sol 
emn  oath  to  defend  the  old  "stars  and  stripes;1'  we 
swear  before  the  God  of  our  Fathers,  presiding  over 
the  destinies  of  America  —  that  no  enemy,  within  or 
without,  shall  sever  the  "  Union  of  States.1' 

"  Honest  Old  Abe  "  fell  with  the  last  gasp  of  the  Re 
bellion;  his  enemies,  even,  bowed  their  heads  in  grief 
over  the  martyr;  the  generous  of  their  brave  natures 
was  too  great  to  repress,  when  he  rose  like  a  Christ 
amid  the  glory  of  an  emancipated  race;  but  the  Eagle 
of  the  country  for  which  men  fought  and  died,  the  his 
toric  "  Old  Abe,17  still  lives  as  the  seal  of  good-will  be 
tween  rivals  in  the  tournament  of  war,  and  may  live 
till  a  new  century  dawns  in  a  brighter  age.  His  head 
is  a  beautiful  ivhite;  it  is  peace  in  emblem  —  the  pure 
of  j  ustice  wreathing  the  sun-lighted  eyes  of  liberty,  that 
speak  so  much  of  battle  and  honor.  This  "  Bird  of 
Lincoln  "  has  seen  the  ending  of  the  dreadful  war  in 
which  he  was  engaged,  the  North  and  South  united 
again  in  closer  bonds  than  ever  —  brothers  now  —  the 
National  Constitution  reconstructed  to  protect  each 
race  and  sex,  and  the  resurrection  of  this  Republic  to  a 


1876.  125 

higher  civilization  that  preludes  a  Continental  Union, 
by  and  by,  bounded  only  by  oceans,  under  one  common 
flag. 

The  Wisconsin  Legislature  of  1876,  by  joint  resolu 
tion  of  the  Assembly  and  Senate,  authorized  Gov.  H. 
Ludington  to  have  t/%  Old  Abe  "  borne  by  some  veteran 
soldier,  on  exhibition  at  Philadelphia,  where  first  such 
a  bird  was  placed  in  our  Constellation  of  States;  where 
he  is  to  demonstrate  by  his  military  personnel  how  hap 
pily  chosen  was  the  emblem,  and  how  much  the  u  War- 
Eagle  of  Wisconsin,"  that  never  lost  a  battle,  is  a  "  De 
claration  of  Independence,"  by  the  grandeur  of  his 
mien  and  the  keenness  of  his  justice. 

To  the  royal  visitors  who  may  there  gaze  upon  this 
famous  bird,  he  teaches,  by  the  unquenchable  fire  of  his 
patriotism,  the  lessons  of  ages  to  them  as  to  ourselves, 
that  injustice  even  to  one  human  being  is  so  much 
governmental  fealty  lost,  that  compromise  with  oppres 
sion  breeds  the  giant  of  rebellion,  that  war  comes  as  a 
painful  necessity  when  we  neglect  to  protect  the  in 
alienable  rights  of  man;  and,  while  the  superior 
strength  and-  durability  of  a  republican  form  of  gov 
ernment  in  maintaining  itself  against  external  and 
internal  enemies,  and  thence  the  evolution  of  the  great 
est  possible  progress  in  wealth,  intelligence,  individual 
sovereignty  and  domestic  virtue,  is  unmistakably  demon 
strated  to  the  nations  of  the  earth  for  a  hundred  years  — 
that,  to  ensure  such  progress  for  the  future,  nationally 
needs  to  be  nurtured  simply  as  a  component  of  uni 
versal  brotherhood;  then  will  our  Eagle  be  no  longer 
fettered  to  the  march  of  armies,  but  free  in  his  native 


126 


OLD  ABE. 


skies  —  the  hovering  cherubim  of  a  cosmopolitan  citi 
zenship,  of  a  Representative  Congress  of  Nations  in 
prudent  council  to  settle  all  local  difficulties  without 
the  arbitrament  of  the  sword — free  in  commerce,  inter 
national  in  science,  eclectic  in  religion. 

"  And  then  we'll  raise,  on  Liberty's  broad  base, 
A  structure  of  wise  government,  and  show, 
In  our  new  world,  a  glorious  spectacle 
By  reason  swayed,  self-governed,  self-improved, 
And  the  electric  chain  of  public  good 
Twined  round  the  public  happiness  of  each; 
And  every  heart  thrilled  by  the  pariot  chord 
That  sounds  the  glory  of  America." 


"UNDER  ARMS,  ONCE  MORE!" 

[There  is  a  "random-  in  the  death  of  Patriots,  when  it  opens  a  Nation  to 
the  life  and  liirlit  of  our  Katherland  in  the  Heavens.     \\  here  is  our  Lincol 
Where   the  heroes  that  went  down  with  him,  pale,  brave,  trustlul,  to  the 
brink  of  the  river,  and  crowed  it  under  convov  of  fleets  manned  by  the  im 
mortals  of  the  -Ancient  of  Days?'1    Henry  Howard  Biownell,  author 
"  War-Lvrics  "  answers  the  question  in  his  inimitable  poem,  entitled  •  A  bra; 
ham  Lincoln,11  as  with  a  prophet's  vision,  he  beholds  the  "  Eagle  Armies, 
giving  heed  to  the  "  Forward,  March!  "] 

Tents  on  the  Infinite  Shore! 

Flags  in  the  azuline  sky, 
Sails  on  the  seas  once  more! 

To-day,  in  the  heaven  on  high, 
All  under  arms  once  more! 
The  troops  are  all  in  their  lines, 

The  guidons  flutter  and  play; 
But  every  bayonet  shines, 

For  all  must  march  to-day. 

What  lofty  pennons  flaunt? 
What  mighty  echoes  haunt, 

As  of  great  guns,  o'er  the  main? 

Hark  to  the  sound  again  — 
The  Congress  is  all  a-taunt! 

The  Cumberland's  manned  again! 

All  the  ships  and  their  men 

Are  in  line  of  battle  to-day,— 
All  at  quarters,  as  when 

Their  last  roll  thundered  away, — 
All  at  their  guns,  as  then, 

For  the  Fleet  salutes  to-day. 

The  armies  have  broken  camp 

On  the  vast  and  sunny  plain, 

The  drums  are  rolling  again; 
With  steady,  measured  tramp, 

They're  marching  all  again. 

With  alignment  firm  and  solemn, 
Once  again  they  form 


128  OLD   ABE. 

In  mighty  square  and  column, — 
But  never  for  charge  and  storm. 

The  Old  Flag  they  died  under 
Floats  above  them  on  the  shore, 

And  on  the  great  ships  yonder 
The  ensigns  dip  once  more  — 

And  once  again  the  thunder 
Of  the  thirty  guns  and  four! 

In  solid  platoons  of  steel, 
Under  heaven's  triumphal  arch, 

The  long  lines  break  and  wheel  — 
And  the  word  is,  "  Forward,  march! " 

The  Colors  ripple  o'erhead, 
The  drums  roll  up  to  the  sky, 

And  with  martial  time  and  tread 
The  regiments  all  pass  by  — 

The  ranks  of  our  faithful  Dead, 
Meeting  their  President's  eye. 

With  a  soldier's  quiet  pride 

They  smile  o'er  the  perished  pain, 
For  their  anguish  was  not  vain  — 

For  thee,  O  Father,  we  died ! 
And  we  did  not  die  in  vain. 

March  on,  your  last  brave  mile! 

Salute  him,  Star  and  Lace, 
Form  round  him,  rank  and  file, 

And  look  on  the  kind,  rough  face; 
But  the  quaint  and  homely  smile 

Has  a  glory  and  a  grace 
It  never  had  known  erewhile  — 

.Never,  in  time  and  space. 

Close  round  him,  hearts  of  pride! 
Press  near  him,  side  by  side, — 

Our  Father  is  not  alone! 
For  the  Holy  Right  ye  died, 
Ind  Christ,  the  Crucified, 

Waits  to  welcome  his  own. 


^D  21-100m-ll,'49(B7 


